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Building Sentences #4
Look at the picture and follow the directions. Use your handouts on “Basic Sentence Part and Conjunction Definitions” and “A Whole Bunch of Active Verbs” to write sentences with each of the various grammatical structures. See the table “Common Punctuation and Sentence Arrangement Patterns” on your handout as a guideline. Use The Chosen as your subject matter.
1. Write an independent clause of 3-5 words using one or more proper nouns, capitalized. Please use an active verb; do not use “is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been.” They are passive verbs. Capitalize the first word of your sentence and use end-sentence punctuation.
2. Add an adverb to describe the “how” of the verb.
3. Using a subordinate conjunction, compose a related dependent clause of 4-6 words and attach it to the end of the independent clause (IC DC). Please use an active verb.
4. Invert the clause order (DC, IC). Remember to use a comma when you begin with a dependent clause. Furthermore, you may need to adjust pronoun usage, capitalization, and adverb placement.
5. Conjunctive adverbs function as transition words. They transition the reader from one idea to the next and show contrast (e.g., however, nevertheless), conclusions (e.g., therefore, thus), and other relationships between ideas (e.g., certainly, moreover, similarly). Therefore, you must choose an appropriate conjunctive adverb (see your handout) and compose another, related independent clause of 4-7 words. Do not use “is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been.” They are passive verbs. Incidentally, you must use a comma after your transition word, the conjunctive adverb, before the main clause for proper punctuation.
6. Lastly, use a semi-colon to attach the final clause to the previous two. Think of a semi-colon as a mirror; therefore, it asks the reader to reflect back on the first idea and hold it in mind simultaneously with the second.
See my examples; subsequently, you try all six steps, twice. First draft in your notes, then turn in the handout for credit when complete.
Examples of each step:
1. Reuven listens to Reb Saunders’ sermon.
2. Reuven attentively listens to Reb Saunders’ sermon.
3. Reuven attentively listens to Reb Saunders’ sermon because he wants to learn the Hasidic perspective.
4. Because Reuven wants to learn the Hasidic perspective, he listens attentively to Reb Saunders’ sermon.
5. However, Reuven does not concur with Reb Saunders that God hates all who do not study Torah.
6. Because Reuven wants to learn the Hasidic perspective, he listens attentively to Reb Saunders’s sermon; however, Reuven does not concur with Reb Saunders that God hates all who do not study Torah.
Paul Kropfl as Reuven Malter
John Lloyd Young as Danny Saunders
Picture from The Chosen
Paper Mill Playhouse
Millburn, NJ - February 2004
Review by John Kenrick
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