SENTENCE PATTERNS
SENTENCE PATTERN 1:
Independent Clause (IC.)
An independent clause (IC) is a complete
sentence that can stand alone.
An independent clause is a complete thought.
An IC must have BOTH a
subject (noun or pronoun) and a
verb (action word).
Examples:
The
grizzly devoured
the salmon.
The
bear plunked
down.
An IC can also contain adjectives, adverbs,
and prepositional phrases.
Examples:
The weak, hungry
grizzly greedily
devoured the salmon.
The weary
bear lazily plunked
down for a nap.
SENTENCE PATTERN 2: Adjective(s),
Independent Clause (Adj, IC.)
This pattern
begins with one or more adjectives, followed by IC (S+V).
An adjective
describes a noun or pronoun.
The adjective(s)
must describe the subject of the sentence.
Examples:
Hungry and weak,
the grizzly devoured the salmon.
Lazy and weary,
the bear plunked down for a nap.
Wet and
slippery, the salmon escaped from the grizzly's powerful jaws.
SENTENCE PATTERN 3: Adverb + adverb, Independent
Clause (Adv, IC.)
This pattern
begins with one or more adverbs, followed by a comma and then the IC.
An adverb
modifies a verb. It tells how, when, or where the action took place.
Examples:
Hungrily and greedily, the grizzly
devoured the salmon.
(How did the
grizzly devour?)
Suddenly
but quietly, the bear plunked
down for a nap.
(When and
how did the bear plunk?)
Up and down, the salmon battled the frigid
water.
(Where did the
salmon plunge?)
SENTENCE PATTERN 4: Prepositional phrase,
Independent Clause (Pp, IC.)
Ø
This pattern begins with a prepositional phrase, followed by an
independent clause.
Ø
Prepositions
begin a phrase that is followed by an object (noun or pronoun).
Examples: under, before, after, for, to,
from, in, out, beneath, at, despite
Ø
A prepositional phrase contains a preposition and the object of
the preposition.
Examples: under the bed, before school, in
the closet, after the storm
Ø
Prepositional phrases describe nouns or verbs.
Examples:
Under the bed,
the cat hid from its owner. (Where did the cat hide?)
After the storm, the sun came out,
forming a rainbow. (When …?)
With great care, the veterinarian
removed the thorn from the tiger's paw.
(How did the veterinarian remove the thorn?)
Ø
If the prepositional phrase precedes the IC, it must describe
the subject or verb of the IC (not some other noun or verb in the sentence).
SENTENCE PATTERN 5: Present
participial phrase, Independent Clause (Ppp, IC.)
Ø
This pattern begins with a present participial phrase, followed by the
independent clause.
Ø
A present participial phrase begins with a present particple.
Ø
A present participle is a verb form that ends in -ing and
functions as an adjective. It describes the subject of the IC.
Examples: running, yelling, sleeping, daring
Ø
A present participial phrase has a present participle followed by an
adverb(s) or prepositional phrase.
Examples:
Running down the hill,
the dog chased the cat.
Yelling loudly,
Bob clung to the broken branch dangling above the river.
Daring his friend to jump too,
Bert leaped into the swollen river.
SENTENCE PATTERN 6: Past participial
phrase, Independent Clause. (Ppp, IC.)
Ø
This sentence pattern is similar to sentence pattern 5, but the
participle is in the past tense instead of the present tense.
Ø
Past participles
are verbs in the past tense form. Regular verbs end in -ed.
Examples: exhausted, famished, stripped,
bleached, crazed
Ø
These verbs function as adjectives. They describe the
subject of the IC.
Examples:
Uninhabited a few days earlier, the
shore was now crowded with grizzlies.
Exhausted from fishing all day, the bear
plunked down for a nap.
Stripped clean by hungry grizzlies,
salmon bones now
littered the shore.
Crazed with jealousy,
Bob raced recklessly to his girlfriend's house
when he
heard Bert was taking her to the dance.
SENTENCE PATTERN 7: Appositive Phrase, Independent Clause. (AP, IC.)
This pattern contains an appositive phrase,
followed by the Independent Clause (IC).
An appositive is a noun or pronoun that
renames another noun or pronoun that immediately precedes or follows it.
Examples:
The grizzly, a predator, eats fish.
A predator, the grizzly eats fish.
Sam, my brother, is exasperating. My
brother, Sam, is exasperating.
An appositive can be used with any noun in the
sentence, not just the subject of the sentence.
Example:
An appositive phrase contains an
appositive and at least one adjective or prepositional phrase.
Examples:
The grizzly, a fearless predator, eats little meat other than
fish.
Sam, my pesky little brother, is exasperating.
My pesky little brother, Sam, is exasperating.
Harry Potter, a character in children’s books, is well known.
Comma rules: Study the above examples. Notice
when and where commas are used. Commas surround an appositive (phrase)
when it comes after the subject or another noun in the sentence.
When the appositive (phrase) precedes the
IC, it is followed by a comma.
A
fearless predator, the grizzly eats little meat other than fish.
A pesky little brother, Sam is exasperating.
A well-known author,
A well-known character, Harry Potter is an adventurous young man.
SENTENCE PATTERN 8: Independent Clause + Independent Clause (IC + IC)
In this pattern, there are two independent
clauses.
Each independent clause has BOTH a subject and a
verb and could stand alone because they are each complete sentences.
Comma Rule: Use a comma with a coordinating
conjuntion (and, or, but) to join the IC’s or use a semi-colon only.
Examples:
The insatiable grizzly devoured the salmon, and its belly was soon
bulging.
The insatiable grizzly devoured the salmon; its belly was soon
bulging.
Flamboyant Bob went to the movies, but bashful Bert rented a
video.
Flamboyant Bob went to the movies; bashful Bert rented a video.
John was asked to deliver an impromptu speech, and his mind raced
with fear.
John was asked to deliver an impromptu speech; his mind raced with
fear.
SENTENCE PATTERN 9: IC, conj, adverb, IC.
SP
10 = SP 1, conjunction SP 3
SP 10 = IC, conjunction adverb, IC.
IC = Independent Clause = a complete sentence with a subject (S) and a verb (V)
Adverb = a word that tells how, when, or where the action (verb) occurs
Comma Rules:
* Use a comma and a conjunction (and, or, but, so) to join two Independent
Clauses (IC's).
Adverb, S V
* When an adverb precedes an IC, use a comma. Ex: Angrily, Bob protested.
S
V
adverb
Example: Micky postulated that Goofy disliked his big, floppy ear, but later,
S V
he discovered Goofy loved them.
S
V adverb S V
Example: Pluto stepped in a puddle, and slowly, murky water permeated his
shoes.
**
You can also reverse this pattern, like this: Adverb, IC, conjunction IC.
Adverb, S
V S
Example: Suddenly, a calamity struck the mid-western town, but everyone
V
survived the tornado unharmed.
Adverb, S
V S
Example: Yesterday, a tornado struck the mid-western town, and the calamity
V
took many lives.
SENTENCE PATTERN 10: Adj + adj, IC, conjunction adverb, IC.
SP
10 = SP 2, conjunction SP 3
SP 10 = Adj + adj, IC, conjunction adverb, IC.
SP 10 = Adj + adj, subject + verb, conjunction adverb, subject + verb.
adj adj , S
V , conj adv , S
Ex: Gaunt and weak, the model staggered down the runway, and suddenly, she
V
collapsed.
Ex: Careful and concerned, Beatrice borrowed her friend's boat, but unfortunately, a renegade rowboat rammed into it during the raging storm.
EX: Lonely and depressed, the nomad traveled down a hill on his bike, and hopefully, he was trying to find a new home.
SENTENCE PATTERN 11: IC + DC (adj clause)
SP
11 = IC + DAC (Dependent Adjective Clause)
DAC = a dependent clause that
begins with a relative pronoun
as the subject;
this clause functions as an adjectives, i.e. it describes a noun.
Relative Pronoun = a pronoun that relates to a noun in the
IC (any noun):
that, which, who, whose, whom
Comma Rules:
1. If the DAC is extra information, use commas
2. If the DAC is essential information, use NO commas
3. If the relative pronoun used is "that," use NO commas.
4. If the relative pronoun used is "which," use commas.
5. For who, whose, or whom give it the extra or essential test.
Ex: Joe ate a deplorable pizza that was moldy.
Ex: Joe ate a deplorable pizza, which was moldy.
Ex: Bob admires Joe, who is an exemplary student.
Ex: Bob, who is an exemplary student, admires his
coach.
Ex: Jane read a book that was 500 pages long
in just three days!
Ex: Jane read a book, which was 500 pages long, in
just three days!
*
When you write these sentences for homework, underline the subjects and verbs in
both the IC and the DC. Remember, the relative pronoun is the subject of the DC
(DAC).
Whom is always used as a direct object or the object of a preposition when
renaming a person or group of people. (Otherwise, use what.)
1. Direct object: Use whom to rename the direct object in a question.
Whom did you call?
(Answer: I called Joe. Joe is a direct object.)
Whom did you pay for the dance tickets?
(Answer: I paid Dave for the dance tickets. Dave is a
direct object.)
2. Object of preposition: Use whom to rename the object of a prepostion.
To whom did you speak?
(Answer: I spoke to Joe. Joe is the object of a
preposition.)
You gave my number to whom ?
(Answer: I gave your number to Joe.)
Example:
Q: Whom are Joe and his friends, a group of
fourteen-year-old athletes, savvy about?
Q: Joe and his friends, a group of fourteen-year-old athletes, are very savvy
about whom?
A: Joe and his friends, a group of fourteen year-old athletes, are very savvy
about soccer players.
*
Who is always used as a subject or a predicate pronoun (a pronoun that follows
the verb). We used who (and that or which) is SP 11.
Subject of IC: Who called the power company?
Subject of DC: The person who hit my car should have to pay to fix
the damages.
Predicate Pronoun: The electrician is who?
Go
to this Website to find out more about the use of who, whose, and whom:
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/pronouns.htm
Find and read Basic Principle # 5. For more help, take one or more of
the quizzes at the bottom of this Website and check your answers. Use the HINTS
provided to learn the rules.
SP 13: Using Who’s and Whose in
Interrogative Sentences
Write 2-3
interrogative sentences (questions) using whose correctly and 2-3 using
who’s correctly. Use one vocabulary word from Week 13 in each sentence.
whose = a possessive
pronoun showing ownership (Whose book is this? This book is mine.)
who’s = who is (Who’s going to the dance? Everyone is going to
the dance.) Who = the subject; is = the verb
(The only problem most
writers have with whose is confusing it with who's, which looks
like a possessive but is really the contraction for who is. In the same
way that we should not confuse his with he's (he is) or hers
with she's (she is) or its with it's (it is), we
should not confuse whose with who's.)
For example:
Who's that walking down the street?
Whose coat is this? (This is whose coat?)
I don't care whose paper this is. It's brilliant!
SENTENCE PATTERN 14: Writing Dialogue
Here are three ways
to use speaker tags and quotation marks with dialogue:
1) The speaker tags come before the dialogue:
EX: Mary moaned, "That eerie haunted house gave me nightmare."
____ _____, "__________________________________."
2) The speaker tags come after the dialogue:
EX: "That eerie haunted house gave me nightmares, " moaned Mary.
"__________________________________," ______ ____.
3) The speaker tags come in the middle of the dialogue, in the middle of a
sentence:
EX: "That eerie haunted house," moaned Mary, "gave me nightmares."
"___________________," ______ ____, "______________."
Homework: Write 6 sentences using Week 14 Vocabulary words and one other vocabulary word from a past present. Use the three ways described above twice each. Underline the subject and verbs. Check for correct placement of quotation marks, commas, periods and capital letters. Make sure each sentence is 12 words or more, including the speaker tags.
Sentence Pattern 15: Writing Similes & Metaphors
Write a sentence for each vocabulary word which uses a simile or metaphor. Each sentence must have 12+ words. Edit all spelling, punctuation, capitalization. Use vocabulary words meaningfully. Highlight or box vocab. word.
Examples:
Simile: My teacher gives as much advice as a kibitzer because she
tells us every day to work hard and prioritize academics.
Metaphor: My teacher is a kibitzer (NOT!) who tells us every day to
work hard and prioritize academics.
Simile: The clouds were like white snow balls, dancing across the
sky..
Metaphor: The clouds were white snow balls, dancing across the sky.
SP 16: Using Colons in Sentences to List
Use a colon (:) in a sentence when listing objects, people, places, activities, etc.
NEVER use a colon AFTER a VERB or PREPOSITION!
Never place a colon between the subject and the verb.
Example: We need the following items for
school: pens, paper, pencils, and scissors.
Wrong: For school we need: pens, paper, pencils, and
scissors.
Why? When the list immediately follows a verb, no colon is needed.
Example: Robin
Williams impersonates these people: Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Bill Gates.
Wrong: Robin Williams impersonates: Bill
Clinton, George Bush, and Bill Gates.
Why? When the list immediately follows a verb, no colon is needed.
Example: Many people work in government positions: members of the judicial branch, heads of the president's cabinets, and representatives in Congress. (Use parallel structure. See SP-18)
Example: Proper
etiquette includes the following: listen to others, raise your hand to speak,
and wait to be called on.
Wrong: Proper etiquette includes: listening to others,
raising your hand to speak, and waiting to be called on.
Why? When the list immediately follows a verb, no
colon is needed.
SP16/18 Using Colons to List in Parallel Structure:
Here are some materials that are inflexible: a piece (of wood), a slab (of granite), and a block (of cement).
Many activities occur in a ghetto: basketball, bootlegging, and gambling.
These chores are very mundane: doing laundry, emptying the trash, vacuuming the carpet, and washing the dishes.
* An adverb clause is a
dependent clause (DC) that tells how, when, where, or why the action (verb)
takes place.
* All clauses have a subject
and a verb.
* An adverb clause begins with an adverb such as before, after,
because, so, when, while.
* Comma Rules:
1. If the DC (adverb clause) precedes the IC, use a comma. (DC, IC.)
2. If the IC precedes the DC (adverb clause), use NO comma. (IC + DC.)
Examples:
1. Because he
was famished,
he
was famished,
Bob
ate an entire extra-large
pizza. (DC, IC.)
2. The teacher
rescinded her offer to
give us ten points after we
got our parent's signature on
the test. we got
our parent's signature on the test. (IC + DC.)
Sentence Pattern 18: Using Parallel
Structure
Copy and paste this lesson into your
Lang. Arts spiral (grammar section) and do the "Homework" exercises below.
Parallel Structure
For additional help using parallel structure, see Capital Community
College Guide to Grammar and Writing
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/parallelism.htm
Coordinate ideas must use the same tense or structure. (These examples are taken from PUSD's Writing Manuel.)
| Wrong: | We learned how to change a tire, shift sixteen gears, and once almost ran the truck off the road. |
| Correct: | We learned how to change a tire, shift sixteen gears, and keep the truck from running off the road. |
| (All the objects of the verb learned are parallel.) | |
| Wrong: | I have mowed the lawn, washed the dog, rescued our hamster, and went to the store all in one day. |
| Correct: | I mowed the lawn, washed the dog, rescued our hamster, and went to the store all in one day. |
| (All the verbs are parallel) | |
| Wrong: | Water skiing no longer interests me as much as to go scuba diving. |
| Correct: | Water skiing no longer interests me as much as scuba diving. |
When you include two or more
similar thoughts in the same sentence, they should be constructed in a similar
way. Similar construction is called "parallel
structure." There are many
situations when parallel structure is used. Here's a few:
1. If one item in a series is listed as a prepositional phrase, the others
should be in a prepositional phrase also.
Example: After a game of soccer, Bob quaffs a gallon
of Gatorade,
a quart of Quencher,
and a pint of prune juice.
NOT: ...Bob quaffs
a gallon of Gatorade,
a quart of Quencher,
and some prune juice.
2. If one clause of a sentence is in ACTIVE voice, the other clause should also
be in ACTIVE voice (not PASSIVE).
Example: Bob participated
in three events and won
awards in all three.
NOT: Bob participated
in three events and was
awarded
a prize
in all three.
3. If listing a series of actions (verbs) in a sentence, use the same verb
tense.
Example: Whenever he
feels melancholy, Bob
runs
on the beach, plays
tennis, sees
an upbeat movie, or calls
a friend. (All verbs are in
present tense.)
NOT: ..., Bob runs
on the beach, plays
tennis, saw
an upbeat movie, or calls
a friend. (Saw
is in past tense.)
4. There are lots of other situations in writing that require parallel
structure. It's hard to classify all of them. Here's a few other examples of
parallel structure.
Right: Fearing failure, Bob began
trembling, sweating,
and
vomiting.
Wrong: ..., Bob began
trembling, sweating, and
he vomited.
Right: Because Bob became an investigative reporter, he asked
where
the accident occurred, when
it occurred, and why
it occurred.
Wrong: ...., he asked
where the accident occurred,
when
it occurred, and the reason
it occurred.
SP 18
Homework: Underline the correct ending for each sentence below.
1. The movie Catch Me If You Can featured a character who was
daring, racy, and...
(a) ...intelligent. (b) ...used his intelligence.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed a charlatan who impersonated others, accepted
jobs he was not qualified to do, and... (a) ...put others in perilous
situations. (b)...others were put in perilous situations.
3. Before the 10-mile run began, Fritz ate a protein bar and... (a)...quaffed
a jug of Gatorade. (b)...will quaff a jug of Gatorade.
4. "Don't mock me and ... (a) ...don't mock others," warned the principal.
(b)...it's not nice to mock others," warned the principal.
5. Finding herself in a perilous predicament, Porsha decided she should retrace
her steps, find a map,and..
(a)...take a safer route. (b)...a safer route was found.
| 1. Add an apostrophe and an s to form the possessive of singular nouns, even if the noun ends in s: | |||||
|
Bob Dylan’s voice |
the kiss’s meaning |
Dickens’s novels |
|||
| 2. Add only an apostrophe to form the possessive of plural nouns ending in s. If the plural does not end in s, add ‘s to form the possessive: | |||||
|
the Joneses’ father |
the Padres’ last game |
children’s library |
|||
|
3. For the possessive form of a compound noun or an indefinite pronoun, place an apostrophe and an s after the last word: |
|||||
|
mother-in-law’s apartment |
Secretary of State’s telephone |
||||
|
everybody’s |
someone else’s |
anyone’s |
|||
| 4. Possessive personal pronouns (his, hers, its, ours, yours, theirs and the relative pronoun whose) do not require an apostrophe. | |||||
| Remember that the word immediately before the apostrophe is the owner: | |||||
|
parent’s car = one parent owns |
boss’ office = one boss owns |
||||
|
parents’ car = two parents own |
bosses’ office = many bosses own |
||||
| 5. When ownership is shared, the apostrophe is also shared; use the possessive form only on the last item in a series to indicate shared ownership: | |||||
|
|||||
| 6. When ownership is individual, each noun in a series gets its own individual apostrophe and s: | |||||
|
|||||
SP-20 = SP-18 Using Parallel Structure + SP-19 Using Possessive Nouns
Write five sentences that use
possessive nouns (SP-19) AND
parallel structure (SP-18).
Review each of these sentence patterns above and study the examples below.
1. John Steinbeck's novel,The
Pearl, contains many examples
of imagery and illustrates
multiple themes.
2. My three friends' favorite
sports are snowboarding at Big
Bear, snorkeling in La Jolla, and
playing basketball at the YMCA.
3. The Secretary of Defense's responsibilities are to serve as a liaison between the military and the president and advise the president on military preparedness.