English 104/Winter 2013
Assignment Sheet #2: Sentence Patterns
Due Friday, 1/18: I am sorry, I’m not able to be here today, so there will be no class. Over the
weekend, on your own, you’ll get started with the next unit.
Due: Tuesday, 1/22: In Writers’ Choices, read the introduction to sentence patterns on pp. 7879, and Chapter 5, pp. 80-83. Diagram #1-10 on p. 83. Compose six sentences in the S-IV
pattern; at least two should contain adverbial modifiers (prepositional phrases or adverbs), and
two should use phrasal verbs. Here’s a way to make sure you get the pattern:
(a) Write an extremely simple sentence of no more than three words. The last word
should be a verb. (“Fish swim.”)
(b) Now expand your sentence by adding adverbial modifiers for the verb (adverbs,
prepositional phrases). (“Fish swim happily in the clear waters of the mountain
streams.”)
Due Wednesday, 1/23: In Writers’ Choices, read all of Chapter 6, pp. 84-87. Diagram #1-11 on
p. 87. On p. 88, combine #1-10. Also, compose the sentences assigned in “On Your Own,” p. 89
(just do two sentences for each number for a total of 12 sentences). Please label your
composed sentences clearly.
Due Thursday, 1/24: Writers’ Choices, read Chapter 7, pp. 90-96. Diagram #1-10 on p. 96. Do the
Sentence-Rewriting p. 97, #1-20. Also, please compose the following:
1. 3 sentences demonstrating the S-TV-DO pattern in its standard word order; for each
sentence use a different verb.
2. 3 questions using the S-TV-DO pattern.
Those wanting extra practice with diagramming S-TV-DO should diagram #11-20 on pp. 96-97.
They are interesting.
Due Friday, 1/25: In Writers’ Choices, read Chapter 8, pp. 100-105. On p. 105, diagram #1-10.
On pp. 84-85, combine #1-10. Also, compose five sentences that contain indirect objects. Use a
different verb in each sentence. Put an asterisk next to every sentence in which you think the
indirect object could be put in a prepositional phrase without its affecting the meaning.
Due Monday, 1/28: In Writers’ Choices, read Chapter 9, pp. 109-115. On p. 115, diagram #110. Pay special attention to the middle of p. 114: understand why you sometimes want to
move the OC to a position before the DO. On pp. 116-117, combine #1-20. Compose five S-TVDO-OC sentences of your own (each using a different verb); in one of the sentences, put the OC
before the DO. (Those wanting extra practice on diagramming the S-TV-DO-OC pattern can
diagram #11-20).
Due Tuesday, 1/29: In Writers’ Choices, read Chapter 10, pp. 119-124. On p. 124, diagram #120. All of these sentences are in passive voice. Remember that the key to figuring out the
difficult ones—the ones that look as though they may have retained objects or retained object
complements—is to put them into the active voice and see what they look like. Then go back to
the passive. Continued on the next page.
Tuesday, 1/29 continued: Also, do Making Passive Voice Sentences, p. 124-125 (the ten
sentences beginning with “Laticia ate the sandwich rapidly.”), and Using Passive Voice to
Improve Coherence #1-5, pp. 125-126 (an exercise that makes a very valuable point about the
value of using the passive voice in certain cases).
Compose a pair of sentences like those in the exercise—one sentence followed by a second
sentence in which passive voice is used to achieve coherence with the first sentence. Finally, do
On Your Own, p. 126. Just do three sentences for each question (six sentences total).
Due Wednesday, 1/30: Today we start a two-day review for Test #2, which will be this Friday,
2/1, and will cover the five sentence patterns we have studied as well as passive
transformations of the transitive verb patterns. For homework:
1. Bring four short lists of verbs as follows:
a. 5 linking verbs
b. 5 verbs that commonly take indirect objects
c. 5 verbs that commonly take object complements
d. 3 verbs that can be both intransitive and transitive
e. The one verb that is always present in the passive voice.
2. Compose two sentences for each of the following verbs: fly, improve, search, serve, and
turn. In one sentence, use the verb intransitively; in the other, use it transitively and
circle its direct object. You may use the verbs in any tenses you choose.
3. Optional special extra credit opportunity for artist-grammarians! Create two pictures
illustrating the difference between the following two sentences, each of which uses the
verb “make” to create a different sentence pattern.
a. Jane made Tarzan his dinner.
b. The lioness made Tarzan her dinner.
4. Please diagram the following sentences (no answer key):
a. We are hosting a birthday party for my aunt.
b. The cake will probably be our greatest expense.
c. The recipe uses huge quantities of chocolate.
d. It is an old recipe and was given to me by my grandmother.
e. Cakes like this are called fattening.
f. I will send you an exact copy of the recipe.
g. Chocolate cake sounds delicious to me.
h. One cookbook calls it America’s most popular cake.
i. Chocolate is often considered people’s most preferred flavor.
j. The cake’s cream and eggs give it a special richness.
Due Thursday, 1/31:
Do the sample test on pp. 127-128. We will go over the answers in class.
Friday, 2/1: Test #2. Remember that you may bring a page of notes to the test.