Sentence Variety By: Anna Li

Goal: To show the class different ways to write sentences.

What is sentence variety? Sentence variety is used to make your writing more interesting and less dull.

Sentence Types There are simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences and compound-complex sentences - Simple Sentence: One independent clause Compound Sentence: More than one independent clauses Complex Sentence: One independent clause and at least one dependent clause Compound-Complex Sentence: More than one independent clauses and at least one dependent clause  Independent Clause: can stand on its own  Dependent Clause: cannot stand on it’s own

Examples Simple Sentence: - The dog is happy and playful. Compound Sentence: - I want to go shopping, but I have no money. Complex Sentence: - After Mary came back from the circus, she realized that she lost her purse. Compound-Complex Sentences: - Although I like video games, I haven’t had time to play, and I have too much homework.

Make these sentences/fragments sound better. The cat. (make this a simple sentence) I like apples. I dislike oranges. (make this a compound sentence) After a long day. I went home. (make this a complex sentence)

1. The cat. The cat is sleeping. 2. I like apples. I dislike oranges 1. The cat. The cat is sleeping. 2. I like apples. I dislike oranges. I like apples, but I don’t like oranges. 3. After a long day. I went home. After a long day, I went home.

To avoid short and choppy sentences, you can use conjunctions and subordinates in your writing.

Conjunctions Used to put together clauses or sentences into one sentence. Think of FANBOYS For And Nor But Or Yet So

Examples I didn’t go to class, nor I did my homework. I like swimming, but it is too cold. I am happy, and I get to go to the amusement park. I ran out of time, so I worked on my project at home.

Use conjunctions to make these sentences sound better. I am hungry. There is no food at home. The rainbow is beautiful. I got to take a picture. I went home. I can sleep.

I am hungry, but there is no food at home. The rainbow is beautiful, and I got to take a picture. I went home, so I can sleep.

Subordinates Used to put two related sentences together into one sentence. after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, while

Examples Although I enjoyed the movie, it ended so soon. While I was sleeping, I heard a noise. I came home late because there was traffic. Before I came to high school, I had no friends.

Use subordinates to make these sentences sound better. I was happy. I did not always get what I wanted. (Even though….) I was gone. Someone ate my cookie. (While…)

Even though I was happy, I did not always get what I wanted. While I was gone, someone ate my cookie. Even if she is your friend, she wouldn’t hang out with you.

To avoid repetition, you can use relative pronouns, participles, or prepositions.

Relative Pronouns “Embed one sentence inside the other using a clause starting with one of the relative pronouns listed below” (Purdue OWL). Which Who Whoever Whom That Whose

Examples Mary, who is a kind girl, has a little lamb. California, which produces a lot of agricultural products, has a drought. The robber that robbed the bank was not very clever.

Use relative pronouns to make these sentences sound better. 1. Karen is an affable person. She goes to the homeless shelter every Wednesday. (..who…) 2. The clown made us laugh. He rode a unicycle. (…that…)

Karen, who is an affable person, goes to the homeless shelter every Wednesday. Southern California, which has Disneyland, is also famous for the entertainment industry. The clown that made us laugh rode a unicycle.

Participles Get rid of a be verb (e.g. am, is, was, were, are) and plug in a participle. Present participles: -ing (e.g. laying, jumping, carrying) Past participles: -ed, -en, -d, -n, or -t (kicked, caught, saved)

Examples Excited about the party, she jump for joy. Mary, excited about the party, jumped for joy.

Use participles to make the sentence sound better. 1. Karen was worried that her friend might be lost. She called her friend’s cell phone multiple times.

Worried that her friend might be lost, Karen called her friend’s cell phone multiple times. Karen, worried that her friend might be lost, Karen called her friend’s cell phone multiple times.

Prepositions Change a sentence into a prepositional phrase. List of prepositions: about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, near, next to, of, off, on, out, over, past, to, under, until, up, with

Examples Without doubt, she helped her friend out. Behind the trashcan, the robber tried to hide.

Use prepositions to make the sentence sound better. 1. Robert stole the cookie from the cookie jar. This was from his grandma’s house.

1. From his grandma’s house, Robert stole the cookie from the cookie jar.

To avoid similar sentence patterns or rhythms, you can use dependent markers or transition words/phrases.

Dependent Markers Instead of starting your sentence with the subject, use dependent markers at the beginning Dependent Markers: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, while Similar to subordinates

Examples While I was at the store, someone stole my car. Although we are friends, we don’t get to see each other everyday.

Use dependent markers to make the sentence sound better. 1. I fell asleep while we were watching a film in the class.

1. While we were watching a film in the class, I fell asleep.

Transitional Words/Phrases Gives rhythm to the beginning of your sentence. Transitional words: accordingly, after all, afterward, also, although, and, but, consequently, despite, earlier, even though, for example, for instance, however, in conclusion, in contrast, in fact, in the meantime, in the same way, indeed, just as... so, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, not only... but also, now, on the contrary, on the other hand, on the whole, otherwise, regardless, shortly, similarly, specifically, still, that is, then, therefore, though, thus, yet

Examples In conclusion, save the dolphins. On the other hand, budget cuts will be in effect. In fact, I won ten trophies.

Use transitional words/phrases to make the sentence sound better. 1. I want to buy a gift for my grandmother’s birthday. She is always nice and gives me money.

1. I want to buy a gift for my grandmother’s birthday 1. I want to buy a gift for my grandmother’s birthday. In fact, she is always nice and gives me money.

The End. 