Lesson 289 - 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. Standing nervously in the wings of the theater, Jeanne practiced her lines quietly and waited to go on stage.

2. The detective searched carefully through the old desk as he recounted in his mind the importance of the will.

3. The small black dog which looked weak and harmless leaped suddenly at the stranger.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

Note - There are other ways in which to write these sentences.

1. Standing nervously in the wings of the theater, Jeanne practiced her lines quietly and waited to go on stage. = participial phrase

1) Jeanne stood nervously in the wings of the theater and practiced her lines quietly while she waited to go on stage. = adverb clause

2) Jeanne stood nervously in the wings of the theater, practiced her lines quietly, and waited to go on stage. = compound verbs

3) Jeanne who practiced her lines quietly stood nervously in the wings of the theater and waited to go on stage. = adjective clause

2. The detective searched carefully through the old desk as he recounted in his mind the importance of the will. = adverb clause

1) The detective searched carefully through the old desk, and he recounted in his mind the importance of the will. = compound sentence

2) Recounting in his mind the importance of the will, the detective searched carefully through the old desk. = participial phrase

3) The detective who searched carefully through the old desk recounted in his mind the importance of the will. = adjective clause

3. The small black dog which looked weak and harmless leaped suddenly at the stranger. = adjective clause

 

1) Looking weak and harmless, the small black dog leaped suddenly at the stranger. = participial phrase

 

2) Although he looked weak and harmless, the small black dog leaped suddenly at the stranger. = adverb clause

3) The small black dog looked weak and harmless but leaped suddenly at the stranger. = compound verbs

 

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