2. Conscious practice in imitating the following sentence patterns can contribute a great deal to improving sentence style— one of the most decisive factors in creating lively, effective writing.

3. There are a wide variety of types of modifying structures available to writers in English. The best way to master each structure is to practice creating sentences by imitating each specific model. Gradually, these structures will become part of your unconscious mental process and will come to mind just as needed to shape a particular thought.

4. Method # 1 Vary simple sentences with different types of modifying elements.

5.  The whirlwind descended, turning furiously, howling like a train, lifting the lawn chairs up and away.

6.  With passion, clarity, and simplicity, our president spelled out her vision for our club.

7.  His youth and inexperience, his intelligence and creativity, his desire for revenge and need to be justified brought about Hamlet’s downfall.

8.  I noticed the trash can had been toppled over, its contents spilling forth in a neat array.

9.  The steps in building a house—finding an architect, deciding on a builder, getting the financing—can turn a dream into a nightmare.

10.  A red rose petal, lying still on the damp ground, made me think about my good fortune.

11.  Fumbling with the year-old magazine, looking for something to occupy his mind, the expectant father passed the longest hours of his life in the waiting room.

12.  Going to the station seemed his most difficult task. He soon found racing for a departing train worse.

13.  To run for office is challenging. Voting wisely to represent your constituents fairly is a goal to be aimed for daily.

14.  Above, the Canadian geese formed a nearly perfect “V.”

15.  Throughout the house an eerie light shone.

16.  Her approach to being successful I did not appreciate.

17.  Clare crouched quietly, looked left and right, and then sprang over the little creek.

18. Method # 2 Vary sentence structures by combining simple sentences to create compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

19.  It was spring, and the jonquils bloomed gloriously on the hillsides and in the gardens of small houses.

20.  The azaleas bloomed early this spring; they are breathtakingly beautiful.

21.  A soccer team has a coach; a baseball team, a manager.

22.  Your answer left me encouraged: I now have reason to hope where I had not hoped before.

23.  Robert’s most important accomplishment was his excellent timing in a sprint; nevertheless, he chose to run the marathon because he wanted to develop a broader range of skills.

24.  Michael is the candidate who will win the contest.

25.  After the ship came, Sean was ready to leave the docks.

26.  That this décor is the most satisfying for long periods is supported by its long- term popularity.

27.  When he heard the twig snap, when he saw the intruder, the ranger immediately signaled to spring the trap.

28.  I had intended to give the same old speech, a speech that I had used the last time I announced I was a candidate.

29.  Few would be willing to work so hard for so little pay; fewer still would do so for so no pay.

30.  Each man lives not only his own personal life, but also the life of his era.