Brushstrokes
Image Grammar
Painting pictures with
words…
Painting with…
1). Participles: A participle is a
verb that is used as an adjective
(descriptive word) and most often
ends in –ing (present tense) or –
ed and –en (past tense.)
Participles evoke (bring to mind)
action.
Examples:
Reminder: Participles are verbs that are used as
adjectives to help add imagery to writing.
Verb
Participle
bake
baked chicken
Ex. I took the baked chicken out of the oven
before it burned.
snore
snoring father
Ex. My snoring father bellowed loudly for hours
last night and no one was able to sleep.
hiss, slither, coil
hissing, slithering, coiling snakes
Ex: Hissing, slithering, and coiling, the diamondscaled snakes attacked their prey.
Let’s Practice…
Participles
Part One Directions:
Circle the participles used in each sentence.
1. Shuddering, the dog backed into the corner
away from its attacker.
2. The rhino, caught in the tangled rope, looked
for freedom.
3. The burning log fell into the fire.
Check your answers…
Part One Directions:
Circle the participles used in each sentence.
1. Shuddering, the dog backed into the corner
away from its attacker.
2. The rhino, caught in the tangled rope, looked
for freedom.
3. The burning log fell into the fire.
Part Two Directions: Re-write each verb as a
participle and then use each participle correctly in a
sentence.
Example: open: opened door
Fortunately, the opened door blocked the blinding sun
rays from hurting our eyes.
Your turn…
1) cough ________________
2) sink ________________
3) burn ______________
4) sleep _______________
Painting with…
Absolutes: a two word
combination that is a noun +
“ing” or “ed” verb added onto a
sentence. Absolutes help add to the
action of an image.
Examples:
Reminder: An absolute is a two word combination
that is a noun + “ing” or “ed” verb added onto a
sentence.
Ex: The cat attacked the dog.
Claws digging, feet kicking,
the cat attacked the dog.
Ex: The branches stretched into the air.
Limbs reaching, the branches stretched
into the air.
Let’s Practice…
Absolutes
Part One Directions: Circle the absolutes used
in each sentence.
1. Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the diver
peered once more at the specimen.
2. Jaws crackling, tongue curling, the kitten
yawned tiredly, awaking from her nap.
3. As I neared the peak of the mountain, shoes
digging and arms pumping, I strode to the top.
Check your answers…
Absolutes
Part One Directions: Circle the absolutes used
in each sentence.
1. Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the diver peered
once more at the specimen.
2. Jaws crackling, tongue curling, the kitten yawned
tiredly, awaking from her nap.
3. As I neared the peak of the mountain, shoes digging
and arms pumping, I strode to the top.
Part Two Directions: Read each sentence
below. Then, re-write and strengthen by adding
at least one absolute to each sentence. You can add
more details to strengthen the writing, too!
Example: The man laughed loudly.
Belly shaking, arms slapping, the man laughed loudly.
1. The car swerved to a stop.
2. When he finished the race, he got out of the pool.
3. The magician amazed the crowd.
Painting with…
Appositives: a second noun or a
noun phrase that adds a second
image to the first/preceding noun.
It will always come after the first
noun and is used to help expand
details in the reader’s imagination.
Examples:
Reminder: an appositive is a second noun or a noun phrase that
adds a second image to the first/preceding noun. It will always
come after the first noun and is used to help expand details in the
reader’s imagination.
Ex: The raccoon enjoys eating turtle eggs.
The raccoon, a scavenger, enjoys
eating turtle eggs.
Ex. My father finished the marathon first in his
age group.
My father, an athlete, finished the marathon
first in his age group.
Let’s Practice…
Appositives
Part One Directions: Circle the appositives
used in each sentence.
1. The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the
fresh, pure spray into the creek.
2. The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the
alligator’s giant teeth sink into its scales.
3. My dog, a beggar, waited at the foot of
the table for scraps to fall.
Check your answers…
Appositives
Part One Directions: Circle the appositives
used in each sentence.
1. The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the
fresh, pure spray into the creek.
2. The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the
alligator’s giant teeth sink into its scales.
3. My dog, a beggar, waited at the foot of
the table for scraps to fall.
Part Two Directions: Read each sentence
below. Then, re-write and strengthen by adding
one appositive to each sentence. You can add more
details to strengthen the writing, too!
Example: My head is throbbing.
My head, a swollen mass, is throbbing.
1. The old woman stared blankly out the window.
2. My uncle won the contest.
3. Justin Timberlake performed at the Staples Center.
Painting with…
Adjectives out of order: amplify
the details of an image; they create
a spotlight and intensify the image
by creating a different rhythm;
usually used in fiction.
Examples:
Reminder: Adjectives out of order: amplify the details of an
image; they create a spotlight and intensify the image by creating
a different rhythm; usually used in fiction.
Ex: The large, red-eyed angry moose
charged the intruder.
The large moose, red-eyed and angry,
charged the intruder.
Ex. The long and rectangular yard
was large.
The yard, long and rectangular, was like a
football field.
Let’s Practice…
Part One Directions: Circle the adjectives out
of order used in each sentence.
1. The woman, old and wrinkled, smiled upon
her newborn great-grandson with pride.
2. My green skirt, scratchy and stiff, was
uncomfortable this morning at work.
3. As the gazelle paused in the field, the
cheetah, tired and hungry, approached what
soon would become his dinner.
Check your answers…
Part One Directions: Circle the adjectives out
of order used in each sentence.
1. The woman, old and wrinkled, smiled upon
her newborn great-grandson with pride.
2. My green skirt, scratchy and stiff, was
uncomfortable this morning at work.
3. As the gazelle paused in the field, the
cheetah, tired and hungry, approached what
soon would become his dinner.
Part Two Directions: Read each sentence
below. Then, re-write and strengthen by placing
the adjectives out of order. You can add more
details to strengthen the writing, too!
Example: The harsh and aggressive boxer felt
no compassion for his contender.
The boxer, harsh and aggressive, felt no
compassion for his contender.
1. The feeble and stiff old man grasped his coat.
2. The dark and twisted character spooked the
audience during the movie.
3. His wrinkled and heavy eyelids started to close as
the night wore on.
Painting with…
Action verbs: In sentences written in
active voice, the subject performs the
action expressed in the verb; the subject
acts. Sentences in active voice are
generally clearer and more direct than those
in passive voice. Your goal is to replace
passive voice with active voice and being
verbs with doing verbs.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_actpass.html
Examples:
Passive Voice
Active Voice
Ex: The runaway horse
was ridden into town by
an old, white-whiskered
rancher.
The old, white
whiskered rancher rode
the runaway horse into
town.
Ex: The grocery store
was robbed by two
armed men.
Two armed men robbed
the grocery store.
Being Verb
Action Verb
Ex. The gravel road was
The gravel road curled
on the left side of the barn around the left side of the
barn.
Ex. The tall shadow was in Ex: The tall shadow
the doorway.
loomed in the doorway.
Let’s Practice…
Part One Directions: Circle the action verbs
used in each sentence.
1. Big Bear Lake echoed with sounds of geese.
2. The baby slept until morning, only stirring
once in the night.
3. The road crept around the bend forcing
drivers to brake slightly as they rounded the
curve.
Check your answers…
Part One Directions: Circle the action verbs
used in each sentence.
1. Big Bear Lake echoed with sounds of geese.
2. The baby slept until morning, only stirring
once in the night.
3. The road crept around the bend forcing
drivers to brake slightly as they rounded the
curve.
Part Two Directions: Read each sentence
below. Then, replace the passive verbs with
action verbs and being verbs with doing verbs.
Example: The kitten was tired.
The exhausted kitten stretched its tired body
across the pillow.
1. The road was curvy.
2. The baby was sleeping peacefully.
3. Her head was pounding.