Patterns for Sentence Variety

Conscious practice in imitating the following sentence patterns can contribute a great deal to improving sentence style—one of the most decisive factors in creating lively, effective writing.

There are a wide variety of types of modifying structures available to writers in English. The best way to master each structure is to practice creating sentences by imitating each specific model. Gradually, these structures will become part of your unconscious mental process and will come to mind just as needed to shape a particular thought.

Method # 1

Vary simple sentences with different types of modifying elements.

The whirlwind descended, turning furiously, howling like a train, lifting the lawn chairs up and away.

1. Free modifier(s):

With passion, clarity, and simplicity, our president spelled out her vision for our club.

2. A series of modifiers (most effective in triplets):

His youth and inexperience, his intelligence and creativity, his desire for revenge and need to be justified brought about Hamlet’s downfall.

3. A series of balanced pairs:

I noticed the trash can had been toppled over, its contents spilling forth in a neat array.

4. Nominative absolute:

The steps in building a house—finding an architect, deciding on a builder, getting the financing—can turn a dream into a nightmare.

5. An internal series of appositives or modifiers:

A red rose petal, lying still on the damp ground, made me think about my good fortune.

6. An interrupting modifier between a subject and verb:

Fumbling with the year-old magazine, looking for something to occupy his mind, the expectant father passed the longest hours of his life in the waiting room.

7. Introductory participles, singly or in a series:

Going to the station seemed his most difficult task. He soon found racing for a departing train worse.

8. Gerund phrases in noun slots:

To run for office is challenging. Voting wisely to represent your constituents fairly is a goal to be aimed for daily.

9. Infinitive phrases in noun, adverb, and adjective slots:

Above, the Canadian geese formed a nearly perfect “V.”

10. A single modifier out of place for emphasis:

Throughout the house an eerie light shone.

11. An introductory prepositional phrase:

Her approach to being successful I did not appreciate.

12. An object or complement before the subject and verb:

Clare crouched quietly, looked left and right, and then sprang over the little creek.

13. Tripled verbs in a simple sentence:

Method # 2

Vary sentence structures by combining simple sentences to create compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

It was spring, and the jonquils bloomed gloriously on the hillsides and in the gardens of small houses.

1. Compound sentence with coordinating conjunctions:

The azaleas bloomed early this spring; they are breathtakingly beautiful.

2. Compound sentence with semi-colon:

A soccer team has a coach; a baseball team, a manager.

3. Compound sentence with elliptical construction:

Your answer left me encouraged: I now have reason to hope where I had not hoped before.

4. Compound sentence with explanatory statement connected by colon:

Robert’s most important accomplishment was his excellent timing in a sprint; nevertheless, he chose to run the marathon because he wanted to develop a broader range of skills.

5. Compound-complex sentence with conjunctive adverb:

Michael is the candidate who will win the contest.

6. Complex sentence with adjective clause:

After the ship came, Sean was ready to leave the docks.

7. Complex sentence with adverb clause:

That this décor is the most satisfying for long periods is supported by its long-term popularity.

8. Subordinate clause filling a noun slot:

When he heard the twig snap, when he saw the intruder, the ranger immediately signaled to spring the trap.

9. Complex sentence with series of dependent clauses:

I had intended to give the same old speech, a speech that I had used the last time I announced I was a candidate.

10. Define a repeated term with a subordinate clause:

Few would be willing to work so hard for so little pay; fewer still would do so for so no pay.

11. Repetition of the same words/ideas in a parallel structure:

Each man lives not only his own personal life, but also the life of his era.

12. Parallel constructions with coorelative conjunctions: