Sentence Patterns #1-12
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Use strong, active verbs. (Declarative or Imperative Sentence)
Ask a question. (Interrogative Sentence)
Use an exclamatory sentence. (Exclamatory Sentence)
Open with an adverb.
Open with a prepositional phrase.
Write a sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.
Use conversation or a quotation.
Use apposition.
Open with an adverbial clause.
Use parallel structure in words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.
Open with an adjective.
Open with an adjective phrase.
Sentence Pattern #1: Use strong active verbs…
In the following examples note the bold, active verbs.
1. Fire belched from the dragon’s mouth.
2. The human brain does not shrink, wilt, perish, nor deteriorate with age.
3. The cloud darkened the moon.
4. The problem perplexed the student.
5. The coyote howled at midnight.
6. The ship cruised through the islands
7. The police dogs patrolled the area.
8. The group toured Disneyland.
Sentence pattern #2: Ask a question…
Sentences may appear as questions, also known as interrogative sentences. A question may appear
anywhere in a paragraph. It often expresses the main idea. The rest of the writing then develops the answer
to the question. Questions most frequently begin with one of these words: who, what, when, where, why,
or how. Questions end with the question mark, also known as the interrogation point.
1. Who settled the American colonies?
2. Who exerted influence upon 20th century literature?
3. What steps do writers pursue in research?
4. Why does Melville portray Ahab as a man obsessed with vengeance?
5. When might microbes multiply?
6. Where in the world might one find good farming conditions?
7. Why did the Vikings turn to the sea for living?
8. How have your appetite and taste in literature changed over this last year?
Sentence Pattern #3: Use an exclamatory sentence…
An exclamatory sentence expresses a strong, genuine feeling or surprise. It ends with an exclamation point.
The exclamation point will not lend weight to a simple statement of fact, nor will the use of double or triple
exclamation marks add anything.
1. Metaphors abound in literature!
2. What incredible luck!
3. I’ll lock them in the dungeon!
4. Never darken my door again!
5. Only prejudice could so blind a jury!
6. The building had disappeared overnight!
7. What torments Captain Ahab endured!
8. Happy holiday!
Sentence Pattern #4: Open with an adverb …
An adverb modifies (changes the meaning of) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs answer these
questions: How? When? Where? Why? How much? How many times? Many adverbs in the English
language end in –ly. Use a comma after an adverb as a sentence opener if the adverb receives special
stress.
1. Anxiously, the reader awaits the explosive climax of “The Tell Tale Heart”.
2. Tomorrow I am planning to leave on my cross-country trek.
3. Honestly, it took my breath away when I saw her.
4. Brilliantly the star shines.
5. Wisely, Helen made her course choices.
6. Angrily, the student leaped to his feet.
7. Slyly and insidiously, the antagonist continued harassing he children.
8. Cleverly, Harper Lee uses Biblical and historical names to give more dimension to her characters.
Sentence Pattern #5: Open with a prepositional phrase…
A preposition describes direction (from the hill); describes position (above the door); tells time (at dinner
time); describes means (with pen or pencil); or shows some abstract relationship (except Jack, for the party,
of independence). Prepositional phrases modify nouns or verbs; therefore, they do the jobs of adjectives
and adverbs. Use a comma after a long, introductory prepositional phrase or if the prepositional phrase
requires special stress. Omit the comma after relatively short phrases.
The following table lists important prepositions of the language according to their uses:
Direction: along, down, from, into, over, through, to, toward, up
Position: above, across, against, among, around, at (the fair), before (the
mantle), behind,
beneath, beside, between, by (the lake), in, off, on, under, within (the house).
Time: after, at (nine o’clock), before (dinner), by (dawn), during, in (ten minutes), until, within (a
short time)
Means: by (hard work), with (no help), without (help)
Abstract: against (all odds), except, for, of
In the following examples, opening prepositional phrases appear in bold type.
1. During the day he read.
2. At the moment, back in the study, the telephone rang.
3. Toward his goal he plodded.
4. For his gold I had no desire.
5. After a moment of surprise, the story allows the reader comic relief.
6. On the affirmative side the debaters included Jill and Larry.
7. With a smile on his face, the lion savored his meal.
8. Without plan or purpose the main character decided to leave town.
Sentence Pattern #6: Write a sentence in which a verb precedes the subject…
In the following sentences the subject appears in bold type and the verb in bold type and underlined. In
these particular examples we also find Sentence Patterns #4 and #5, sentences opening with adverbs or
prepositional phrases; however, here the verb precedes the subject.
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Beside the house grew a large maple tree.
Along the avenue sped a new corvette.
Closer and closer floated the blimp.
Higher and higher rose the suspense.
Over the cabin flew a white flag.
Down the road limped an old man.
Across the page seared the frightening image.
Behind the door crouched Mr. Hyde.
Sentence Pattern #7: Use conversation or a quotation…
In writing dialogue, a writer customarily indents, like paragraphs, the word of each speaker. When a writer
quotes short speeches or statements, though, to illustrate a point in exposition, he usually includes them
within the paragraph. The following conventions govern the use of other punctuation in relation to
quotation marks.
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Always place commas and periods inside the closing quotation mark.
Place semicolons (;) and colons (:) outside the closing quotation mark.
Place quotation marks, exclamation points, and dashes inside or outside the final quotation mark,
depending upon the situation. They come inside when they apply to the quotation only; they come
outside when they apply to the entire statement.
Never double end-punctuation marks. If a quotation ends a sentence, the end punctuation within
the quotation marks also indicates the end of a sentence.
Examples:
1. Harper Lee describes Jem’s distress as he fights to understand the verdict against Tom Robinson:
“How could they do it, Atticus; how could they?”
2. “Ellen,” she said, “I want you to take the two young women for a ride in the countryside.
3. Atticus conveys his philosophy when he tells his children that to understand a person, you must
“consider things from his point of view.”
4. “Anthony,” his host smiled, “you have a wonderful way of glamorizing things.”
5. “If they turn me down, how will they do it?” he asked.
6. “Jennings,” he said, without even looking in the direction of the boy, “wipe the board.”
7. Who said that “good guys finish last”?
8. “Out!” snapped Father Wolf.
Sentence Pattern #8: Use apposition…
Appositives—nouns or pronouns—extend the meaning of preceding nouns or pronouns. As nonrestrictive
(or non-essential) modifiers, they require commas to set them off from the rest of the sentence. Restrictive
(essential) appositives and those used as a part of a person’s name require no commas.
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George Eliot, a great 19th century novelist, wrote with sympathy, wisdom, and realism about
English country people and small towns.
Penicillin, a powerful drug, has won medical acceptance.
William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy.
Thyme, a minty herb, makes a savory chowder seasoning.
Shelley, the poet, could not tolerate injustice.
Ender, a young but intelligent boy, is sent off to Battle School.
LGHS, a top-performing high school, offers many honors classes.
In a touching tribute to George Gershwin, a famous American composer, the orchestra played
“Rhapsody in Blue.”
Sentence Pattern #9: Open with an adverbial clause…
An adverbial clause has a subject and a predicate, but it cannot stand alone; it functions as part of the
sentence. When adverbial clauses open a sentence, follow them with a comma. Adverbial clauses modify
verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or main clauses. They usually express a relationship of time, place, direction,
cause, effect, condition, manner, or concession. The following words serve as common connections for
expressing these relationships.
After
Although
As
As if
As long as
before
if
in order that
provided that
since
so that
though
till
unless
until
whenever
where
wherever
while
because
so
when
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After she seized control, the situation changed drastically.
Although he chirped away like a happy bird, I knew John’s sorrow.
Before I could get to my feet to defend myself, she gave me a clip across the ear.
If the barometer drops sharply, a change in the weather will occur.
Since she goes to court in the afternoons, she cannot see clients.
Unless unexpected delays occur, the workers will finish the new wing by spring.
Whenever his eye fell upon me, my blood ran cold.
While we walked, he told me his life story.
Sentence Pattern #10: Use parallel structure in words, phrases, clauses, and
sentences…
Parallel structure places words, phrases, clauses, and sentences in a series of the same grammatical
elements. Creating parallel constructions shows the reader that two or more things relate to each other with
equal importance. If ideas don’t run parallel, the reader goes off the track of logical thought.
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He drew her to him, whispered in her ear, and kissed her.
The professor told us to write in ink, to use lined paper, and to leave margins.
I resolved to complete all my homework, study for my test, and get to bed at a reasonable hour.
Pearl Buck proved her craftsmanship through her dynamic sentence structure, her suspenseful plot,
and her enduring theme.
He expressed gratitude to his teachers, to his parents, and to the school system.
He walked to the platform, stood still a moment, and hesitantly began to speak.
Calm, cool, and collected, the girl began her speech.
Sentence Pattern #11: Open with an adjective…
An adjective describes or points out a noun or pronoun. It tells what kind, what color, how many, which
one, whose. Adjectives enable a writer to specify, to distinguish (not shelf, but lowest shelf). They add
descriptive details. They also limit or make more definite the meaning of a key word (the first book).
Typically, adjectives immediately precede the words they modify; however, pulled away from those words
and placed on the front of a sentence and followed by a comma, they gain emphasis.
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Fearful, the hunter fled through the jungle.
Happy, Dorothy announced her graduation from medical school.
Cold, the football players stayed near the fire.
Wiser, Gary decided to pursue another goal.
Furious, Peter felt helpless and frustrated.
Outraged, John Steinbeck graphically depicted the plight of the poor and the homeless.
Breathless and weary, he trudged down the road.
Influential, the senator swayed the opinions of her colleagues.
Sentence Pattern #12: Open with an adjective phrase…
Adjective phrases consist of adjectives plus a group of words, often a prepositional phrase, without a
subject and verb. Adjective phrases serve the same function as adjectives: they modify nouns or pronouns.
They also tell what kind, what color, how many, which one, and whose. Placed as sentence openers,
adjective phrases end with a comma.
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Passionate on the subject, he spoke for an hour.
Sympathetic to a high degree, Blake forgave her for her transgressions.
Shrewd in her practice of law, Helen rose quickly to the top of the firm.
Superstitious to a high degree, Sarah shunned black cats.
Exact in his portrayal of the migrant workers, Steinbeck educated the reading public about the
anguish of the dispossessed.
Afloat with confidence, the team sprinted onto the court.
Shocked at the news of Mr. Rochester’s demented wife, Jane Eyre fled Thornfield Hall.
Confident with pencil and paper, she could write a paragraph on a moment’s notice.