Source: 4+-3tiles.PNG, Leightwing, Wikimedia
Imitation gives you ideas for creating a variety of sentences that will maintain your readers’ interest. In the next two sections, you will study two additional ideas to create sentence variety. They are
- adding to the structure of simple sentences, and
- combining simple sentences into compound and complex sentences.
You will first practice adding to sentences, and after each practice, you will try to imitate your revised sentence.
See if you can add elements to the sentences below to make a completely “loaded” sentence, meaning one that uses several of the techniques for varying sentences that you have learned about in this lesson so far. Note: None of the choices are capitalized to avoid giving away the answers.
1. Select an addition from each drop-down menu that will best fit the sentence.
Let’s now practice imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject.
2. Use your notes to write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases and a clause to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the python sentence. Hint: You could revise the sentence with an adverbial phrase that begins with “after,” an adjectival clause that begins with “who,” and a prepositional phrase that begins with “by.” When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation. [________], basketball players, [________], get ready for a big game [________].
Source: Baylor Women's Basketball
versus University of Houston, 1995,
The Texas Collection, Baylor University,
Flcikr
Sample Response:
After days of practice, basketball players, who have hopes of a playoff spot, get ready for a big game by visualizing success.
3. Select an addition from each drop-down menu that will best fit the sentence.
Let’s now practice imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject.
4. In your notes, write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases and a clause to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the hang glider pilot sentence. Hint: You could revise by adding an adverbial phrase that begins with “during,” an adjectival clause that begins with “even,” and a participial phrase that includes an -ing word. When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation. [________], many viewers, [________], will watch the commercials intently, [________].
Source: Dog watching the TV commercial,
Nestle, Flickr
Sample Response:
During the Super Bowl, many viewers, even those who hate football, will watch the commercials intently, trying to decide which ones are the best.
5. Select an addition from each drop-down menu that will best fit the sentence.
Let’s now practice imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject.
6. In your notes, write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the “Ojito Adentro” sentence above. Hint: No hints this time. You’re on your own. Look at the model to get ideas for your additions. When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation. [________], all of the students in the class, [________], started an impromptu chant: [________].
Sample Response:
After taking the final exam, all of the students in the class, overjoyed that vacation had finally arrived, started an impromptu chant: “freedom, freedom, freedom.”
The additions in this sample imitation sentence are an adverbial phrase, an adjectival phrase, and an appositive phrase.
7. Select an addition from each drop-down menu that will best fit the sentence.
Let’s now practice imitating the structure of this sentence using a different subject.
8. In your notes, write a version of the sentence below. Add some phrases and a clause to the skeleton structure so that it imitates the structural pattern of the chipmunk sentence. Hint: Again, no hints. Look at the model to get ideas for your additions. When you are finished, check your understanding to see a sample imitation.
[________], the fox [________] had slipped into the chicken coop, [________].
Source: Vulpes vulpes coiled up, Conti,
Wikimedia
Sample Response:
Before anyone realized it, the fox from the neighboring woods had slipped into the chicken coop, terrifying all the hens.
The additions in this sample imitation sentence are an adverbial clause, a prepositional phrase, and a participial phrase.