Patterns of Sentence Variety 10/6/08
Curtis Reeser
1. Free Modifier: The basketball player leaped lifting off from the ground, soaring through the air, slamming the ball in the rim.
2. Nominative absolute: I saw the team win, its players jumping for joy after the victory.
3. A series of modifiers, most effective in triplets: With dedication, desire, and hard work, the team made it to the state championship.
4. A series of balanced pairs: His heart and dedication, his talent and coolness under pressure allowed the basketball player to be successful.
5. An internal series of appositives or modifiers: The strategies for winning a game—preparing a game plan, practicing hard, executing the plays—require physical and mental preparation alike.
6. An interrupting modifier between a subject and a verb: The basketball player, trying hard, fired up the rest of his lackluster team.
7. Introductory participles, singly or in a series: Sprinting towards the ball, the basketball player dove on the ground disregarding the safety of his own body.
8. Gerund phrases in noun slots: Giving full effort was the toughest lesson for the team.
9. Infinitive phrases in noun, adverb, and adjective slots: To win is the goal of all players competing in the game.
10. A single modifier out of place for emphasis: Above, the ball circled the rim for what seemed like hours.
11. An introductory prepositional phrase: On the court, a battle commenced between the two competing teams.
12. An object or complement before subject and verb: His training for the season the coach saw as dedication.
13. A series of tripled verbs in a simple sentence: The player stole the ball, dribbled through defenders, and swished a shot.
14. A short question for dramatic effect: Who made the shot? With how much time?
15. A fragment, deliberately and effectively used for description, transitions, to structure questions, or to give emphasis: Make the shot!