Effective Sentences #I.

 

The following sentences, all of which begin with a simple subject, contain single-word modifiers which can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.  Find this modifier and rewrite the sentence, placing the modifier first.  The sentences in this exercise a good sentences.  You are ask to rewrite them so that you will learn a variety of ways of expressing the same idea.

 

Example:  0. Our system of measurements will eventually be changed.

                  0. Eventually our system of measurements will be changed.

 

1. The United States is planning cautiously to introduce the metric system.

2. This system, unfamiliar and different, will change American habits quite a bit.

3. Our vocabulary of measurement will gradually be replaced by a new one.

4. The metric system, tested and refined has been in use in Europe and most of the rest     of the world since the early nineteenth century.

5. The standard unit of measurement until then, surprisingly, was a person's hand or foot.

6. This obviously is not a standard size.

7. The metric system, comprehensive and orderly, includes measurements of length, weight, volume, and temperature.

8. An inch converts metrically to 2.54 centimeters; an ounce to 28.3 grams; a quart to .946 liters; and 32o Fahrenheit to 0o  Celsius (or Centigrade).

9. The notion of changing to another system once seemed forbidding.

10. Anyone, informed and willing, can make the conversions with ease.

 

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II.  The following sentences, all of which begin with the subject, contain phrase modifiers which can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.  Rephrase the sentences by placing the modifying phrases at the beginning.  Place a comma after each introductory phrase.

 

1. Pompeii was a well-to-do commercial city at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius.

2.  Its population at the time of its destruction was about 30, 000.

3. Archaeologists have discovered many facts about the life and times of ancient Pompeii to add to our knowledge of bygone days.

4. Wealthy Romans, attracted by the beauty of the location and healthfulness of the climate, built many villas there.

5. The streets, paved with blocks of lava, were usually wide and straight.

6. The Forum was a square, completely surrounded by temples and public buildings, near the western edge of the city.

7. Mt. Vesuvius had given any indication of its volcanic character up to the year A.D. 63.

8. The inhabitants, still rebuilding their city from the ravages of earthquakes, were               overwhelmed by the sudden eruption of August 24, A.D. 79.

9. The people fled the city to save their lives.

10, The existence of Pompeii was forgotten during the Middle Ages, and it was not until        1763 that excavations of the city began.

 

Effective Sentences #2

 

Rewrite the following sentences so that each begins with either a word or a phrase modifier.  In rearranging the sentences, you may wish to drop some of the words or add others; you may do so provided you keep the original meaning.  Hints are given for the first five.

 

Example: 0. We were tired and decided to leave the party early.

                0. Tired, we decided to leave the party early.

 

1. Tommy flopped into the nearest chair, kicking off his shoes.  [Begin with kicking.]

2. He looked through the program to find what songs Chata Ortega would sing.  [Begin with to find.]

3. The program about Roberto Clemente and Orlando Cepeda began at seven o'clock sharp.  [Begin with at.]

4. We scraped the old bureau down to the natural wood and discovered that it was real      mahogany.  [Begin with scraping.]

5. Our boat, trim and fast, won the race.  [Begin with trim.]

6. My car was greased last week, and now it runs perfectly.

7. The stage crew, working evenings after school for weeks, completed the seats on schedule.

8. The band marched around the field and entertained the spectators during the half.

9. garden cITY hIGH sCHOOL has good school spirit and always has a large attendance at football games.

10. The light bulb, flickering on and off for several seconds, finally went out.

 

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II. Rephrase each sentence so that it begins with a subordinate clause instead of the subject.  Place a comma after an adverb clause coming first in the sentence.

 

Example: 0. I was unable to attend the concert because I had the flu.

                0.  Because I had the flu, I was unable to attend the concert.

 

1. The praying mantis is a welcome guest in any garden because it destroys many harmful pests.  [Because . . .]

2. The insects are not large in this country, but their South American relatives are big enough to devour small birds.  [Although . . .]

3. The Hottentots regarded the mantis highly, and the alighting of the local species on any person was considered a token of saintliness and an omen of good times.  [Since  . . .]

4. They watch patiently for their prey, and these creatures assume a sort of kneeling position.  [When . ]

5. Superstitious people believed these insects to be engaged in prayer, and so mantises were often called soothsayers or prophets.  [Because . . ]

6. The insect can fly, but it prefers to wait on shrubs for its unsuspecting dinner to come by.          

7.  The mantis moves quietly and carefully, and seldom does its prey get away.

8. The forelegs shoot out like lightning, and the victim is caught in the mantis' trap.

9. The female lays small groups of eggs, and she attaches these to boards or twigs.

10. The eggs hatch in May or June, and the small mantises look almost exactly their parents.

11. The baby mantises develop wings as they mature.

12. The female mantis harbors no love for her male, and a male mantis may find himself his wife's dinner if he is not fast on his feet.

13. These voracious eaters of destructive pests are protected by law in many areas, and a person may be fined for harming them.

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III.  Change each of the following sentences in the manner suggested.

 

1, The steak was thick and juicy, and it just seemed to melt in my mouth.  [Begin with single-word modifiers.]

2. The batter swung wildly at the ball. [Begin with a single-word modifier.]

3. The Student Council elected a parliamentarian to settle all disputes about conducting a meeting.  [Begin with an infinitive phrase.]

4. Myron forgot his lines in the middle of the second act.  [Begin with a prepositional           phrase.]

5. The house was appraised at $70,000 last year and sold for $78,000 this week.              [Begin with a past participial phrase.]

6. The bookstore in our town gives special discounts at Christmastime.  [Begin with a                   prepositional phrase.]

7. The coach was annoyed at Christine's failure to show up for practice and benched her      for two games.  [Begin with a past participial phrase.]

8. Ms. Migillicutty came into the room and told us to report to the gymnasium for our           fifth-period class.  [Begin with a subordinate clause.]

9. We rowed across the lake and camped at Paradise Point.  [Begin with a participial         phrase.]

10. I likes A Separate Peace very much and have recommended it to all my friends.            [Begin with a subordinate clause.]

Effective Sentences #3

 

I. Change each of the following compound sentences into a complex sentence by expressing one of the ideas in a subordinate clause.  Begin each subordinate clause with a word which will show how the ideas in the sentence are related.  These words will work for the purpose:

                          CAUSE: because, since, as

                          RESULT OR REASON: so that, in order that

                          TIME: when, while, as, since, until, after, before, whenever

                                      

 

             EXAMPLE: 0.  Our school is very crowded this year, and most of the study                                              halls are in the auditorium.

                                  0.  Because our school is very crowded this year, most of the study                                    halls are in the auditorium.

 

1. Last week I visited New York City with my parents, and we saw the Dance Theater of     Harlem at Uris Theater.

2.  Melva Murray-White danced in Don Quixote, and I was fascinated by her                       performance.

3.  She danced with a powerful grace, and her movements radiated energy and                   exhilaration.

4. The dancers performed Romeo and Juliet, and I became even more entranced.

5. My favorite dance was Agon, and I enjoyed its theme of life and combat.

6. It remarkably traced the path of movement in time and space, and I came to admire        Balanchine and Stravinsky, who created this dance.

7. Its movements were like flashes of electricity, and the dancers darted back and forth      across the stage with computer-like precision and timing.]

8. I watched the dancers, and I concluded that the group combines jazz movements with     classical ballet.

9. I had not known dancers could convey such joy, but then I saw this marvelous group.

10. I will get an advance schedule next year, and I will surely see a dance by Geoffrey       Holder.

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II. The following paragraph consists of short sentences which give the writing the effect of being chopped up.  A series of short sentences may sometimes be used to describe exciting action because short sentences give the effect of speed.  In general, however, avoid such style as that in which the following paragraph is written.

     After you read the paragraph all the way through two or three times, rewrite it to eliminate the choppiness.  Remember to vary the length and style of your sentences.

 

     The largest desert in the world is in North Africa.  The Sahara extends for more than three thousand miles in length.  It is seldom less than a thousand miles wide.  The boundaries range from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile Valley.  The surface of the Sahara is not one level stretch of sand dunes.  Sharp contrasts may be noted.  The average elevation is about one thousand feet.  There are also areas fifty to sixty feet below sea level.  One may also encounter peaks eleven thousand feet high.  The sand desert is called the erg.  The largest erg is the Libyan Erg.  This area contains over two hundred thousand square miles.  These vast areas of sand dunes are avoided by the desert people.  They prefer to dwell in the rocky desert or in the gravelly desert.  Water is more easily found in those areas.

 

III. Combine each of the short sentences below into one long sentence.  Take special pains to make the long sentences read smoothly.  Appositives, introductory expressions, subordinate clauses, and compound subjects and verbs are suggested means.

 

1.  American artists have come from many different geographic locations.  Their backgrounds have been various.  These artists are on the current art scene.

2. Marisol Escobar spent the early part of her youth in Venezuela.  Wwhen she was eleven, she moved to the United States with her family. She prefers to use only her first name.

3. Marisol is known for her assemblages of popular figures. Some of her figures are on display at the Museum of Modern Art.  This museum has provided a special room for her figures.

4. Gwendolyn Brooks was born in Kansas.  She grew up in Chicago.  She was the first Black woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize.

5. For almost thirty years Miss Brooks has been recognized as a major American poet.  In 1976, she received another honor.  She became the first Black woman elected to the National institute of letters.

6. Hiroko Yajima is a violinist.  She is originally from Tokyo.  She came to New York in 1966.  In 1971 she made her professional debut.

7. Miss Yajima has received critical acclaim.  She has been praised for her agile bow arm and her ability to maintain accurate pitch.  Her sensitive temperament has drawn favorable attention.

8. Fernando Bujones dances with the American Ballet Theater.  He was born in Cuba.  This artist now lives on the Upper West Side.  This is an area of New York City.

9. Cicely Tyson is a native-born American.  She made her television debut in 1959.  She played a young African woman.  The character refused to accept her fiancé's desire to adopt Western culture.

10. Miss Tyson is best known for her portrayal of Rebecca.  Resilient and sensitive, Rebecca was the young mother in the movie Sounder.

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Effective Sentences 3, Part III Rewrites

 

1.  American artists from many different geographic locations and backgrounds are current on the art scene.

 

2. Marisol Escobar, who spent the early part OF HER YOUTH IN Venezuela and MOVED TO THE united states WITH HER FAMILY at  eleven, PREFERS using ONLY HER FIRST NAME.

 

3. mARISOL IS KNOWN FOR HER ASSEMBLAGES OF POPULAR FIGURES, Some OF HER which ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE museum OF modern Art, which has provided a special room for her figures.

 

4. Gwendolyn Brooks, born in Kansas and growing up in Chicago, was the first  black woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize.

 

5. Recognized as a major American poet for almost thirty years, Miss Brooks received another honor in 1976 by becoming the first black woman elected to the National Institute of Letters.

 

6. Hiroko Yajima, a violinist originally from Tokyo, came to New York in 1966, where she made her professional debut in 1971.

 

7. Critically acclaimed for her agile bow arm and ability to maintain accurate pitch, Miss Yajima has drawn favorable attention for her sensitive temperament.

 

8. A dancer with the American Ballet Theater, Fernando Bujones, born in Cuba, now lives New York City's Upper West Side.

 

9. Native-born American Cicely Tyson, made her television debut in 1959, playing a young African woman who refused to accept her fiancé's desire to adopt Western culture.

 

10. Miss Tyson is best known for her portrayal of Rebecca, a resilient and sensitive young mother in the movie Sounder.