Lesson 288 - Parts of the Sentence - Sentence Variety

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Having learned about phrases and clauses, let's now use the following phrases and clauses to give variety to our writing: participial phrases, adverb clauses, adjective clauses, compound sentences, or compound verbs.

First identify which of the above ways is used in the sentence, and then rewrite it using the three other ways identifying each of the methods used.

Example: 

Having finished my lessons, I sat back and gloried in my effort. = participial phrase

You must rewrite it using an adverb clause,  adjective clause, and either a compound sentence or a simple sentence with compound verbs.

1) I finished my lessons, sat back, and gloried in my effort. = compound verbs

2) After I had finished my lessons, I sat back and gloried in my effort. = adverb clause

3) I who had finished my lessons sat back and gloried in my effort. = adjective clause

Instructions: Identify the written sentence and rewrite it the other three ways.

1. The engineer knew the train was on time, leaned against the side, and sighed with relief.

2. Hoping to have the seating in place by evening, the committee for the Olympics hurriedly set up bleachers along the main road.

3. Mark took a quick, refreshing swim in the mountain lake before he returned to the cabin for breakfast.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The engineer knew the train was on time, leaned against the side, and sighed with relief. = compound verbs

 

1) Knowing the train was on time, the engineer leaned against the side and sighed with relief. = participial phrase

2) The engineer who knew the train was on time leaned against the side and sighed with relief. = adjective clause

3) When the engineer leaned against the side and sighed with relief, he knew the train was on time. = adverb clause

2. Hoping to have the seating in place by evening, the committee for the Olympics hurriedly set up bleachers along the main road. = participial phrase

1) The committee for the Olympics hoped to have the seating in place by evening and hurriedly set up bleachers along the main road. = compound verbs

2) The committee for the Olympics that hoped to have the seating in place by evening hurriedly set up bleachers along the main road. = adjective clause

3) Because they hoped to have the seating in place by evening, the committee for the Olympics hurriedly set up bleachers along the main road. = adverb clause

3. Mark took a quick, refreshing swim in the mountain lake before he returned to the cabin for breakfast. = adverb clause

1) Having taken a quick, refreshing swim in the mountain lake, Mark returned to the cabin for breakfast. = participial phrase

2) Mark who had taken a quick, refreshing swim in the mountain lake returned to the cabin for breakfast. = adjective clause

3) Mark took a quick, refreshing swim in the mountain lake and returned to the cabin for breakfast. = compound verbs

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