Lesson 12 - Using Sentences of Different Structure

LESSON 12 -USING SENTENCES OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURE


In addition to using sentences of different length, you should also try to use sentences of different structure. To avoid being repetitive, vary your sentence structure using one of the following:


1. Compound Sentences:

These are sentences that use conjunctions such as - and, so, but, because, etc.

Example:

She was angry so she hit him.

He wanted to play with them but he was too tired.


2. Complex Sentences:

These are sentences that have an independent clause and a dependent clause. They have subordinators such as since, after, although, when, etc.

Example:

When he arrived at the party, it was already over.

After eating the cake, he went on to eat all the biscuits.


3. Embedded Sentences:

These are sentences that use embedding words such as who, which, that and whose.

Example:

Peter, who owns the big house in the country, is very rich.

The book, which is on the table, is mine.


4. Sentences beginning with participial phrases:

(a) Present Participle - ing

Example:

Crouching in a corner of the room, he did not dare to move a muscle.

(b) Past Participle - ed

Example:

Tired of eating the same thing every day, he decided to try the new dish.


HOMEWORK 12


Rewrite the following passage, using as many of the structures mentioned above:

Mana was a girl. She was very thin. She was always hungry. Her father died three years ago. Her mother was very poor. She had no job. She begged for money. Mana begged with her. One day, a kind woman gave them a delicious rice dish. Mana wanted to eat it all. Her mother said they should keep some. They saw a starving dog. Mana looked at her mother. Her mother looked back at Mana. They gave some of the rice to the dog. They were happy.


The passage above consists of simple sentences. They sound elementary and choppy. Rewriting it with varied sentence structures will make it more interesting.