Name: ____________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________
6B- _____
Grammar: Sentence Variety & Verb Tense
I. Sentence Variety: Sometimes we forget that our sentences, when read, deliver a sound, not just an
idea. The result can be meaningful sentences that lack rhythm and variety. One of the most common
sentence structures in our language is S-V-O: Subject-Verb-Object.
Subject:
A noun (or pronoun) that does the verb (action).
Verb:
The action of the sentence.
Object:
A noun (or pronoun) that receives the action; the verb happens to the object.
Here’s an example of the S-V-O sentence structure: The mouse freed the lion.
Subject:
(the) mouse
Verb:
freed
Object:
(the) lion
Directions: USE PENCIL. Read each of the following sentences. Then revise (rewrite) them on the
space provided by adding descriptive words or extra information to the beginning of your sentence. Start
your sentences with a description or extra information (the thoughts, feelings, or character traits of the
subject OR additional facts); put a comma; and then write the original sentence. You may make up
appropriate descriptions or information; whatever makes sense is fine. Remember: If you write a
description, it has to describe the noun after the comma.
Ex: Tommy caught the ball.
Possible Revision: Desperate to make the team, Tommy caught the ball.
Possible Revision: Shaking with fear, Tommy caught the ball.
Possible Revision: Confident in his ability, Tommy caught the ball.
Possible Revision: As he calculated his next move, Tommy caught the ball.
Possible Revision: While the fans screamed with support, Tommy caught the ball.
Possible Revision: Because no one else would do it, Tommy caught the ball.
1. The lion released the mouse.
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2. The poachers set their trap.
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(over)
3. The owl surveyed the savannah for food.
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4. The moon cast its rays through the trees.
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5. The little mice greeted their mother.
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II. Verb Tense: Verbs do all sorts of things, but they usually show action. Action verbs have tenses, or
time. The main tense are past, present, and future. When you write, you should generally stick with one
verb tense throughout your writing. For stories, most writers use past tense (was, ran, thought, etc.),
which suggests that the action already happened. For essays about stories, however, most writers use
present tense (is, runs, thinks, etc.), as if the action is “live” in the present. The point, no matter what
mode you’re writing in, is to use consistent verb tenses, to keep your action in one tense from start to
finish.
Directions: USE PENCIL. Let’s make all the verbs in this news article appear in the PRESENT tense. To
achieve this goal, first, circle all of the verbs. (Warning: A sentence can have more than one verb.) Next,
cross out verbs that are in the PAST tense. Finally, turn the past tense verbs into PRESENT tense verbs.
*Sometimes, a verb has to stay in past tense to make sense. This is OK. Use your judgment…
An edited excerpt from an article in The Atlantic: “Americans Believe in Science, Just Not Its Findings”
by Julie Beck on Jan, 29 2015
In general, Americans believed in science.
A new report by the Pew Research Center found that 79 percent of the 2,000 adults surveyed think science “makes life easier
for most people.” Seventy-one percent thought that investment in science ultimately paid off.
But on certain hot-button scientific topics of our day, Pew finds wide gaps between what the public believes, and what
scientists believed. You can probably guess which ones.
Genetically Modified Foods: 88 percent of scientists said they were "generally safe" to eat; 37 percent of the public agreed.
Vaccines: 86 percent of scientists believe they should be required in childhood; 68 percent of the public felt the same.
Climate Change: 94 percent of scientists say it’s a “very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem; 65 percent of the public
believed the same thing. 87 percent of scientists blamed humans; 50 percent of the public accused humans too.
Evolution: 98 percent of scientists claim they believe humans evolved over time; 65 percent of the public argue for the same
point.