Lesson 289 – Parts of the Sentence – Sentence Variety

By Daily Grammar

Having learned about phrases and clauses, let’s now use the following phrases and clauses to give variety to our writing: participial phrases, adverb clauses, adjective clauses, compound sentences or verbs.
First identify which of the above ways is used in the sentence, and then rewrite it using the three other ways identifying each of the methods used.
Example: Having finished my lessons, I sat back and gloried in my effort. = participial phrase
You must rewrite it using an adverb clause, adjective clause, and either a compound sentence or a simple sentence with compound verbs.
I finished my lessons, sat back, and gloried in my effort. = compound verbs
After I had finished my lessons, I sat back and gloried in my effort. = adverb clause
I who had finished my lessons sat back and gloried in my effort. = adjective clause
Instructions: Identify the written sentence and rewrite it the other three ways.
1. Standing nervously in the wings of the theater, Jeanne practiced her lines quietly and waited to go on stage.
2. The detective searched carefully through the old desk as he recounted in his mind the importance of the will.
3. The small black dog which looked weak and harmless leaped suddenly at the stranger.
–For answers scroll down.

Answers:
1. participial phrase
Jeanne stood nervously in the wings of the theater and practiced her lines quietly while she waited to go on stage. = adverb clause
Jeanne stood nervously in the wings of the theater, practiced her lines quietly, and waited to go on stage. = compound verbs
Jeanne who practiced her lines quietly stood nervously in the wings of the theater and waited to go on stage. = adjective clause
2. adverb clause
The detective searched carefully through the old desk, and he recounted in his mind the importance of the will. = compound sentence
Recounting in his mind the importance of the will, the detective searched carefully through the old desk. = participial phrase
The detective who searched carefully through the old desk recounted in his mind the importance of the will. = adjective clause
3. adjective clause
Looking weak and harmless, the small black dog leaped suddenly at the stranger. = participial phrase
Although he looked weak and harmless, the small black dog leaped suddenly at the stranger. = adverb clause
The small black dog looked weak and harmless but leaped suddenly at the stranger. = compound verbs

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