1. VARIETY IN SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Writing with Style

2. TWO PATTERNS
The Loose Sentence
The Periodic Sentence

3. BASIC STATEMENTS

4. BASIC STATEMENTS Bells rang. Love is blind. The cat scratched Sally.
John gave his mother flowers.
The teacher considered him a good student.
Every English sentence contains a basic statement. It may stand alone as one short sentence as in the examples above, or it may be buried inside a longer sentence. It is the kernel that you have left after you chop away everything in a sentence except its essential meaning; it is the kernel you build on when you want to make a sentence longer.

5. THE LOOSE SENTENCE

6. THE LOOSE SENTENCE Basic statement: Bells rang.
This sentence is a basic statement with a string of details added to it.
Basic statement: Bells rang.
Loose sentence: Bells rang, filling the air with their clangor, startling pigeons into flight from every belfry, bringing people into the streets to hear the news.

7. THE LOOSE SENTENCE
Basic statement: The teacher considered him a good student.
Loose sentence: The teacher considered him a good student, steady if not inspired, willing if not eager, responsive to instruction and conscientious about his work.

8. THE PERIODIC SENTENCE

9. THE PERIODIC SENTENCE Basic statement: John gave his mother flowers.
In this sentence, additional details are placed before the basic statement. Delay, of course, is the secret weapon of the periodic sentence.
Basic statement: John gave his mother flowers.
Periodic sentence: The tough one, the sullen kid who scoffed at any show of sentiment, John gave his mother flowers.

10. THE PERIODIC SENTENCE Basic statement: The cat scratched Sally.
Periodic sentence: Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the loveable cat scratched Sally.

11. THE PERIODIC (INTERRUPTIVE)
In this sentence, additional details are added inside the basic statement:
Basic statement: Love is blind.
Periodic sentence: Love, as everyone knows except those who happen to be afflicted with it, is blind.

12. EXERCISES

13. EXERCISES The moon rose. The man was dead. She liked the song.
Write a loose (cumulative) sentence at lest twenty words long using each of the basic statements. Do not change the basic statement; just add to it.
The moon rose.
The man was dead.
She liked the song.
They had a good time.

14. EXERCISES Mary left the room. Hate is based on fear. The man was dead.
Using the following basic statements, write four periodic sentences at least fifteen words long:
Mary left the room.
Hate is based on fear.
The man was dead.
The circus was his life.

15. EXERCISES
Select four of the eight sentences you have just written and add details that will make each one a combination of the loose and the periodic.

16. EXERCISES The old man shuffled out of sight.
Expand the subject on the sentence below:
The old man shuffled out of sight.

17. EXERCISES The girl walked across the playground.
Expand the verb of each of the following sentences.
The girl walked across the playground.
The boy talked about fishing.

18. EXERCISES He liked the car. John read the book.
Add a simple appositive to the noun at the end of each sentence below:
He liked the car.
John read the book.
They listened to the lecture.
He called the dog.

19. EXERCISES
Using prepositional phrases and participles, add detail to each of the appositives in the four sentences you have just written. Make each sentence at least fifteen words long.

20. Parallel Structure
Parallel Structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at three levels:
Word
Phrase
Clause

21. Words and Phrases Incorrect:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.
Correct:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.

22. More Examples: Words & Phrases
Incorrect:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.
Correct:
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

23. Examples continued: Incorrect:
Angry ants, munched the marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake, and sipping syrup, headed off across the countertop.
Correct:
Angry ants, munching marshmallows, crumbling coffeecake, and sipping syrup, headed off across the countertop.

24. Clauses
Parallel structure that begins with clauses must continue on with clauses.
Incorrect:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.
Correct:
The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game

25. Lists after a colon Incorrect:
The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.
Correct:
The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.

26. Other things to watch for:
Use parallel structure with pairs of words or ideas.
Examples:
Granny’s method was tried and true
Man proposes. God disposes.

27. Use parallel structure on both sides of coordinating conjunctions
(and, but, yet, or, nor, for, so)
Examples:
She possessed all the wizard’s charm yet none of the wizard’s insight.
Consult a doctor if your coughing persists or if your coughing worsens over the weekend.

28. Correct the sentences with improper parallel structure.
Sabrina has wit, charm, and she has an extremely pleasant personality.
Sabrina has wit, charm, and a pleasing personality.

29. Continued -
In English class, Tashonda learned to read poems critically and she appreciated good prose.
In English class, Tashonda learned to read poems critically and appreciate good prose.

30. Continued-
Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor, and friend.
Coach Espinoza was a brilliant strategist, a caring mentor, and a wise friend.

31. Continued -
We found the film repulsive, offensive, and we thought it was embarrassing.
We found the film repulsive, offensive, and embarrassing.
Mr. Tran kept his store clean, neat, and he had it conveniently arranged.
Mr. Tran kept his store clean, neat, and conveniently arranged.

32. The End