10 SENTENCE PATTERNS

10 SENTENCE PATTERNS TO ADD VARIETY TO YOUR WRITING

Quick reference for students to make your story captivating.

COMPLEX SENTENCES

HOW TO MAKE WRITING INTERESTING?

One way to make your narrative captivating is to vary your sentence structures.  If a whole essay is written merely in simple sentences or compound sentences, it will make your story boring.  Therefore, learning some complex sentence structures will enhance your writing.


WHAT'S A COMPLEX SENTENCE?

A complex sentence is formed when we combine an independent clause with a dependent clause.  Both clauses are simple sentences which contain a subject and a verb.  The only difference is a dependent clause does not express a complete idea and it depends on the main clause for its meaning.  

Conjunctions and relative pronouns are used to construct complex sentences.

So, how do we make it simple for our students to understand the mechanics involved in constructing complex sentences?  

For second language learners with little English language exposure, perhaps we can try this technique out:


A.  Using CONJUNCTIONS
B.  Using RELATIVE PRONOUNS & RELATIVE ADVERBS

It may look or sound a little complex but we need to start from somewhere.  It is never too late to learn.


A.  USING CONJUNCTIONS

Note:  The acronym given in most websites is AAAWWUBBIS, but I modify it to triple A, double W, double B, U, I, S.  It depends on your preferred way to remember.

1.  These is an example of two simple sentences.

2.  Let's try to use the conjunction 'As' to join the above sentences together.

3.  Let's take a look at the SSVEEE table below.
This is an example of the conjunction 'as' to join the two sentences.

4.  Here's an example of  the conjunction 'when' to combine the sentences.

5.  This is an example of the conjunction 'although' in a complex sentence.  Do take note of the common error our Malaysian students make when using the conjunction 'although'.

Note:  You can also put the conjunction in the middle.  
e.g.  Angelica made friends easily although she was new in school.


6.  Here's an example of the conjunction 'because'.

7.  Example of the conjunction 'since'.

8.  Example of the conjunction 'until'.

9.  Example of the conjunction 'if' in a complex sentence.

Check out how the conditional 'if' is used in four different situations.
Click any of the below:-
First Conditional(Real Possibility);
Second Conditional (Unreal Possibility);
Third Conditional (No Possibility);
Zero Conditional (Certainty)


B.  USING RELATIVE PRONOUNS AND RELATIVE ADVERBS 

1.  Adding additional information to a subject, verb and object will turn a sentence into a complex sentence.  
Let's add further information to the following subject using the relative pronoun 'who'. 

We can stretch the complex sentence further by adding the conjunction 'when'.    For example:

2.   Here's an example of using the relative pronoun 'whose' to give additional information to the subject.

3.  Let's take a look at how the relative pronoun 'which' is used to make a complex sentence.

4.  This is an example of a complex sentence using the relative pronoun 'that'.

5.  Examples of complex sentences using relative adverbs 'when' and 'where'.

Check this websites:
1.  Complex Sentences
2.  Compound and Complex sentences

COMPLEX SENTENCES: RELATIVE PRONOUNS & ADVERBS

COMPLEX SENTENCES

B.  Using relative pronouns and relative adverbs.

Adding additional information to a subject, verb or object will turn a sentence into a complex sentence.  
Let's add further information to the subject using the relative pronoun 'who'.

We can stretch the complex sentence further by adding the conjunction 'when'.    For example:

2.  Here's an example of using the relative pronoun 'whose' to give additional information to the subject.

3.  Let's take a look at how the relative pronoun 'which' is used to make a complex sentence.

4.  This is an example of a complex sentence using the relative pronoun 'that'.

5.  Examples of complex sentences using relative adverbs 'when' and 'where'.

Click here to return to Complex Sentences:  Using Conjunctions

DESCRIBING SETTING

In writing narrative, one of the main elements to include is a description of the setting.    It is important to paint the picture using time or the place where your story is set.    

Adapted from www.empoweringwriters.com 

Do remember not to overwrite the setting.  Just write two to four sentences and continue with the main characters or events of the storyline.

Possible Pre-writing activity 

One of the activities I did with the students was to get them to read short texts of various settings and identify the adjectives.  They then classified the adjectives into the 5 senses chart.  This activity helped to expand their vocabulary and write settings that show instead of tell.  It is extremely useful to get students to focus on an item be it location, food / beverages, objects, etc.

Student's work

Adapted from http://www.creativewriting-prompts.com/printable-graphic-organizers.html

Check out this websites for further reading:-
1.  http://prezi.com/qx2r9vs0wttu/setting-and-the-senses/
2.Setting descriptions
3.Setting Description Entry:  Forest
4.  Writing tutorials:  Describing settings