Sentence Patterns

Sentence Patterns from The Art of Styling Sentences by Ann Longknife, Ph.D. and K. D. Sullivan

What are Sentence Patterns? • Sentence patterns are commonly used ways to construct a sentence. • Think of each of these as a “template” or a “formula” for creating a good sentence. • Why should I use them? • They help you remember the rules of good grammar and punctuation. • They liven up a paper! • They make your writing seem more professional and advanced (translation: they make you sound smarter!).

Reviewing the Basics • Every sentence must have a subject and a verb. • Subject – a noun that “does” the action of the verb. • Verb – an action word that describes what the subject of the sentence is doing. • Example: Fish swim. • Fish is the subject. • Swim is the verb. • Example: Koalas eat. • Koalas is the subject. • Eat is the verb.

Reviewing the Basics • Sometimes we add modifiers (descriptive words) to make the sentence more interesting. • Example: The bright yellow fish swims swiftly and beautifully. • Fish is the subject. • Swims is the verb. • Example: The cute koalas in the trees eat eucalyptus leaves. • Koalas is the subject. • Eat is the verb.

Reviewing the Basics • Phrases also act as modifiers, explaining more about what is happening in your sentence. • Prepositional Phrase • Begins with a preposition (in, on, at, under, etc.) • Examples: in the park, on the table, over the door • Participial Phrase • Begins with a present or past participle • Examples: leading the pack, grown in the summer • Infinitive Phrase • Begins with an infinitive (to + verb) • Examples: to play tennis, to stop the project

Reviewing the Basics • You can also use clauses, a group of words containing a subject and a verb. • Independent clause • Makes a complete statement • Communicates an idea by itself • CAN be a sentence on its own • Dependent clause • Modifies part of another clause • Does not communicate a complete thought • CANNOT be a sentence on its own

Sentence Pattern 1 • Compound Sentence: Semicolon, No Conjunction(two short, related sentences now joined) • S V ;S V . • This pattern helps you join two short, simple sentences having two closely related ideas. • Use a semicolon instead of a conjunction and comma. • You can actually have three or more clauses. • Be sure to avoid two pitfalls of the compound sentence: • The run-on sentence (which has no punctuation between the two sentences that have been joined). • My cat lost her ball I don’t know where. • The comma splice (using a comma instead of a period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two sentences you have joined). • The plant wilted, I forgot to water it.

Sentence Pattern 1 • Remember that an independent clause has a subject-verb combination that makes a full statement. What comes before and after the semicolon must be able to stand alone; otherwise, it is only a fragment. • At the game, the reason for the loss in yardage being the broken shoestring on the left guard’s shoe. • Which was the only explanation that he could give at the moment. • Subordinating words, such as the following, keep a clause from being independent: • Because • If • When • After • And other such words…

Sentence Pattern 1 • Examples of a correct Pattern 1 Sentence: • Gloria, try on these jeans; they seem to be your size. • Some people dream of being something; others stay awake and are. • Reading is the easy part; remembering takes more effort.

Sentence Pattern 1 Exercises • Complete each of the following sentences by adding an independent clause: • ______; the beach was deserted and rather scary. • After they lost the match, the tennis team went home; ______. • The large blue whale came very close to the boat; ______.

Sentence Pattern 1a • Uses a conjunctive adverb such as however, hence, therefore, thus, then, moreover, nevertheless, likewise, consequently, and accordingly. • You still need a semicolon before the connector, but a comma after the connector is optional. • S V ; however, S V . • Examples: • She exercised every day and cut back on her food; however, she didn’t lose any weight. • This car looks as if it has been wrecked; therefore it’s not a good buy.

Sentence Pattern 1a Exercises • Complete each of the following sentences by adding an appropriate conjucntive adverb (Pattern 1a): • I really didn’t want to go to the party; ______ I went to be with Jim • My teacher has traveled extensively; ______ I asked her advice about Italy. • I have to feed the pets when I get home; ______ I have to have supper started by the time Mom gets home.

Sentence Pattern 1b • Uses a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so). • S V ; S V , and S V . • S V , but S V ; S V . • Examples: • The rain kept falling; Joan saw the roof begin to leak, and she put out a bucket to catch the water. • It was the right color; it fit, and it was cheap. • Our cat loves to play with the ball; I love to watch her, but sometimes I’m not in the mood to play. • I didn’t do it; John said he didn’t do it, but the vase was certainly broken.

Sentence Pattern 1b Exercises • Combine the short sentences into one sentence that follows Pattern 1b. If necessary, add, omit, or change words to improve the sentence. • Group One: The girl looks happy. • She has a new car. • Her brother has one too. • Group Two: The tiger seems restless. • He is really big. • He should have more room. • Group Three: Fettuccini is a delicious pasta. • It is a favorite dish in many European countries. • It is often associated with Italy.

Sentence Pattern 1c • Use two or more semicolons to connect three or more complete sentences. • S V ; S V ; S V . • Examples: • John got an A; Jennie also got an A; unfortunately George got a C. • Carmen likes to cook; Janice would rather watch TV; I like to eat Carmen’s cooking and watch TV with Janice. • Dad is cheap; when I ask for a loan, he doesn’t listen; Mom isn’t any help either.

Sentence Pattern 3 • Compound Sentence with Explanatory Statement(clauses separated by a colon) • General statement (idea) : specific statement (example) . (an independent clause) (an independent clause) • The colon signals the reader that something important or explanatory will follow. • The second clause will explain or expand some idea expressed in the first clause. • The first statement will contain a word or an idea that need explaining; the second statement will give some specific information about that idea. • Examples: • Darwin’s The Origin of Species forcibly states a harsh truth: Only the fittest survive. • The empty coffin in the center of the crypt had a single horrifying meaning: Dracula had left his tomb to stalk the village streets in search of fresh blood. • Remember Yogi Berra’s advice: It ain’t over till it’s over.

Sentence Pattern 3 Exercises • Complete each of the following sentences with an independent clause. If the first clause is missing, provide a general statement. If the second clause is missing, add an explanation. • ______: the students all got A’s on their papers. • The dot-com companies have changed the work week: ______. • I finally know how to program my VCR: ______. • ______: we toured the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian Castle, the Freer Gallery, and the new wing of the National Gallery of Art.

Sentence Pattern 4 • A series without a conjunction(a series in any place in the sentence) • A , B , C . • This pattern is the simplest form of the series. You just separate the items by commas. No conjunction links the final two items. Omitting this conjunction is effective because it gives your sentence a quick, staccato sound. • Read the sentence aloud so you can hear whether the items flow together without the conjunction before the last item. Examples: • The United States has a government of the people, by the people, for the people. • The teacher handled the situation with great patience, wisdom, humor. • It took courage, skill, knowledge—and he had them all. • Their friendship has endured, in spite of arguments, boyfriends, distance.

Sentence Pattern 4a • A series with a variation • A or B or C . • A and B and C . • These can appear in any place in the sentence. Examples: • Even though he is smart, I have never seen Keith arrogant or annoyed or impatient. • Many ice hockey games lead to broken ribs or sprained knees or dislocated shoulders. • Looking down from the Empire State Building, Jeannie felt thrilled and amazed and scared.

Sentence Pattern 4 Exercises Develop a series for each of the following sentences. An essay traditionally has three major parts: ______, ______, ______. ______, ______, ______ are my favorite foods. ______, ______, ______, the winner left the stadium feeling great. (Begin this sentence with three –edor –en words.) The children gathered around their teacher, ______, ______, ______. (Provide a series of –ingwords for the blanks.) When the game was cancelled, the rowdy spectators at the ball game ______, ______, ______.

Sentence Pattern 5 • A series of balanced pairs (note the rhythm) • A and B , C and D , E and F .(may be in any slot in the sentence) • This pattern has a series of pairs—two or three or four, with a conjunction between the items in each pair. Examples: • The textbook clearly showed the distinctions between prose and poetry, denotation and connotation, deduction and induction. • Great artists often seem to occur in pairs: Michelangelo and da Vinci, Gaugin and van Gough, Monet and Cezanne. • Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, Lancelot and Guinevere were all famous lovers in literature. • Eager yet fearful, confident but somewhat suspicious, Jason eyed the barber who would give him his first haircut.

Sentence Pattern 5 Exercises Complete each of the following sentences. Fill in the blanks with a series of balanced pairs. • Tea or coffee, ______ or ______, ______ or ______, ______ or ______–these are popular drinks. • Some foods just seem to go together, like: ______ and ______, ______ and ______. • Some Hollywood couples like ______ and ______ or ______ and ______ seem to have good marriages. Using the words listed below, compose three sentences, each with a balanced series pattern: • Oatmeal, Cheerios, coffee, tea, biscuits, honey • elephants, hippos, gorillas, monkeys • Veteran’s Day, Labor Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day

Sentence Patterns