Grammar “Brush Strokes” Learning to Craft Syntax Created by Jennifer Cullen 2014

(from p. 4 practice quotation…) ●Illusions are made. ●Media distorts. ●We falsely hope. Write this sentence in the center of a page. First, create a simple core sentence from either your thesis or the original quotation :

Appositive (simple definition): a noun that renames the noun before it (use an article -- the, an, a -- to be sure it is an appositive) Example: We, a generation of dreamers, falsely hope. “Painting” with appositives...

Participle (simple definition): “-ing” or “-ed” form of a verb; participle phrase: participle plus other words Example: Striving yet stumbling, we, a generation of dreamers, falsely hope. “Painting” with participles...

Prepositional phrase (simple definition): a phrase with an introductory “direction, time, space” word; silly tip: a preposition is a word that connects a squirrel to his tree (ex: he can be in his tree, under his tree, etc.) Example: Striving yet stumbling, we, a generation of dreamers, falsely hope amid the litany of society’s want-more messages. “Painting” with prepositional phrases...

Absolute phrase (simple definition): a noun + an “-ing” verb Example: Striving yet stumbling, we, a generation of dreamers, souls seeking meaning and purpose, falsely hope amid the litany of society’s want-more messages. “Painting” with absolutes...

Simple rule: Choose strong action verbs whenever possible. Consider adding an adverb. Example: Striving yet stumbling, we, a generation of dreamers, souls seeking chasing meaning and purpose, falsely hope amid the litany of society’s want-more messages. “Painting” with action verbs...

(simple definition): placing adjectives somewhere other than before the noun modified Example: Striving yet stumbling, we, a generation of dreamers, souls chasing meaning and purpose, falsely hope amid the litany, endless and constant, of society’s want- more messages. “Painting” with adjectives out of order...

You also have the options of gerunds and infinitives... Striving yet stumbling to succeed ( infinitive phrase ), we, a generation of dreamers, souls chasing meaning and purpose, falsely hope amid the litany, endless and constant, of society’s want-more messages of satisfying self with materialism or reputation ( gerund phrase ). Look at p in your workbook: