Sentence Patterns

Modifiers
Patterns 11, 11A, 12, 13
 Interrupting Modifier
Between Subject and
Verb
 S, modifier, V
 S – modifier – V
 S (modifier that whispers) V

Example
Donuts and Danish pastries, popular breakfast
foods, contain little nutrition.
A small drop of ink, falling (as Bryan said) like
dew upon a thought, can make millions
think.
 Pattern 11 Tips
 When a modifier comes between a subject
and verb, you may separate it from the main
elements of the sentence with commas or
dashes.
 If the modifier is an aside within the
sentence, put parentheses around it
 Punctuation determines the type of
emphasis you give the modifier
 Punctuation marks, which go in pairs, set off
the modifier dramatically
 A Full Sentence as
Interrupting Modifier
 S – a full sentence – V
 S - ( a full sentence) – verb

Example
Juliet’s famous question – early in the balcony
scenes she asks, “Wherefore art thou,
Romeo?” – is often misunderstood: she
meant not “where” but “why.”
Narcissus ignored Echo so completely (how
could he? She was such a lovely nymph!)
that she just faded away.
 Pattern 11A Tips
 Do not put a period before the second
dash unless the statement is a
quotation
 The interrupting modifier does not

always come between the subject and

the verb
 Introductory or
Concluding Participles
 Participial phrase, S V.
 S V, participial phrase.

Example
Preserving, determined to succeed,
driven by wonderlust, blessed with
discipline, the pioneers forged a
civilization out of a wilderness.
Pattern 12 Variations
 Shifting the movable participial phrase to
various positions creates subtle changes in
meaning or emphasis
Example
Guarding us with their powerful guns, the
heavily armed soldiers at the Rio conference
looked ominous.
The heavily armed soldiers guarding us with
their powerful guns at the Rio conference
looked ominous.
The heavily armed soldiers at the Rio
conference, guarding us with their powerful
guns, looked ominous.
A Single Modifier Out of
Place for Emphasis
 Modifier, S V. (modifier may be in
another position)

Example
Below, the traffic looked like a
necklace of ants.
The general demanded absolute
obedience, instant and unquestioning.
 Pattern 13 Tips
 To place additional emphasis on any
modifier, put it somewhere other than
its normal place in the sentence
 Avoid the split infinitive in formal

writing