Sentence Patterns 14-20 Power Point Notes

Slide 2
Pattern 14
Put one or more prepositional phrases at beginning of sentence
Sometimes a comma is unnecessary; sound and meaning of sentence are a guide

Prepositional phrase never stands alone

Slide 3
Pattern 15
In context, inversions must sound normal
Use them sparingly

Slide 4
Pattern 15a
Standard English sentence is subject, verb OR subject, verb, modifier OR subject, verb,
completer (Direct Object or Subject Complement)
Completely reversing the order of these sentence parts creates an emphasis and rhythm
you can’t achieve in any other way
This pattern fits better into dramatic statements
Test the sentence by reading it aloud

Slide 5
Pattern 16
Not only – “also” may be omitted
Some words work in pairs
correlative conjunctions - either or, not only but, etc. These link words, phrases or
clauses that are similar in construction.
The above patterns illustrate some common phrases used for paired constructions that
may occur in simple or compound sentences
These structures are helpful in making a comparison or contrast
If not… - both parts of the construction must be parallel; they need the same grammatical
structure and rhythm
if not praise, at least not blame
if not in the park, at least not in the back alley

Slide 7
Tips
1.Put both conjunctions of a pair in logical places so that what follows each one will be
parallel
Wrong – the prisoner was not only found guilty of murder but also of robbery
Right – the prisoner was found guilty not only of robbery but also of murder
Slide 8
16A
This type of paired construction – THE SIMPLE CONTRAST – illustrate diff between 2
ideas and usually involves a reversal
This reversal may be dramatically emphatic or may simply reinforce an ironic purpose
This pattern doesn’t involve correlative conj
To show a reversal in the middle of sent, simply say “this, not that” OR “not this but that”
Punctuation marks, especially commas, dashes or parentheses – will help indicate a break
in your sentence and establish your point of reversal or contrast

Slide 9
Pattern 17
This pattern helps achieve variety and style
It’s quite common in speech thus, easy to use in written work

Slide 10
Pattern 17
Dependent clause is a part (subject, object, or complement) of independent clause This
pattern helps achieve variety and style
It’s quite common in speech thus, easy to use in written work
The dependent clause in this pattern will start with
who, whom, which, that, what, why, where, when, how
And then come the subject-verb of dependent clause
If one of these words is the subject, it will need only a verb after it
The dependent clause can never stand alone

Slide 11
Pattern 18
This pattern uses noun or pronoun plus participle and has no grammatical connection to
the rest of the sentence. It does explain or elaborate on the sentence
This abstract construction must have some punctuation
use comma if it comes at beg of sent or before one at the end
if it comes in the mid of sent, enclose it w pair of commas, dashes or parentheses

Slide 12
Pattern 19
This pattern can provide intense clarity BUT being brief alone doesn’t make it dramatic.
It’s effective only
1.When you use it after several long sentences
2.When you let it more or less summarize what you have just said
3.When you let it provide transition between 2 or more ideas
After a series of long, involved sentences, a short statement will grab the readers’
attention, make them pause, shock them into considering the ideas in the longer sentences
that precede it
The pattern works best when it is emphatic, points up a contrast, or summarizes
dramatically
This pattern provides intense clarity, but being brief alone won’t make it dramatic

Slide 13
Pattern 19a
This pattern involves one of 2 basic constructions
1. Question that begins with an interrogative word
2. Statement that becomes a question through intonation (pitch or tone)
3.
It is effective
In intro to arouse reader interest
As topic sent to intro paragraph
Within par to provide variety
Between paragraphs to provide transitions
At end to provide a thought-provoking conclusion
Avoid scattering these around just because they’re easy
Remember – use them
To stimulate interest
To arouse curiosity
To lead reader into some specific idea about your subject

Slide 14
Pattern 20
Overused, a fragment becomes a gimmick
Used sparingly, it’s very effective; it has a purpose
Effective fragments
In description
For transition
For indication conclusion
In structuring a question of answer
For making exclamations and for emphasis
For making explanations
Sometimes in aphorisms or fragments or cliches