AP English III Sentence Structures

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AP English III Sentence Structures

• Reference
• The Art of Styling Sentences, 4thed. By Ann
  Longknife and K.D. Sullivan

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Symbols

• S subject
• V verb
• DO direct object
• SC subject complement
• ID independent clause
• DP dependent clause

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Week 1- Compound Sentence Semicolon, No
Conjunction

• Compound Sentence join two simple sentences ( S
  V) with closely related ideas
• S V S V
• Use this structure to combine sentences where you
  have discussed similar ideas into a single, more
  powerful sentence.
• Examples
• Gloria, try on these jeans they seem to be your
  size.
• Some people dream of being something others stay
  awake and are.
• Reading is the easy part remembering takes more
  effort.

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Week 2 Compound Sentence Two Semicolons to
Connect Three Complete Sentences

• Compound Sentence join two or more simple
  sentences ( S V) with closely related ideas
• S V S V S V .
• Use this when you have three sentences with
  connecting ideas to create one, more cohesive
  sentence.
• Examples
• John got an A Jennie also got an A
  unfortunately George got a C.
• Carmen likes to cook Janice would rather watch
  TV I like to eat Carmens cooking and watch TV
  with Janice.
• Dad is a skinflint when I ask him for a loan, he
  doesnt listen Mom isnt any help either.

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Week 3 and 4 Compound Sentence with Elliptical
Construction

• Elliptical construction is when we leave out the
  verb in the second clause because (and only if)
  it is the same as in the first clause.
• S V DO or SC S , DO or SC .
• Use this structure if you dont want to repeat
  the same verb in the second or third clause.
• Examples
• For many of us the new math teacher was a savior
  for others, a pain.
• His mother told him to rent a car his sister, to
  pack the suitcases.
• The mother and son each had a goal hers was
  educational his, recreational.

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Week 5 Compound Sentence with Explanatory
Statement

• While the structure is similar to the previous
  compound sentences, the content is very
  different, as the colon implies. The colon
  performs a special function It signals to the
  reader that something important or explanatory
  will follow. The second clause will further
  explain or expand the idea of the first clause.
• General Statement (idea) Specific Statement
  (example)
• (an independent clause) (an
  independent clause)
• Use this structure when you want the second part
  of a sentence to explain the first part, give an
  example, or provide an answer to an implied
  question.
• Examples
• Darwins The Origin of Species forcibly states a
  harsh truth Only the fittest survive.
• The empty coffin in the center of the crypt had a
  single horrifying meaning Dracula had left his
  tomb to stalk the village streets in search of
  fresh blood.
• Remember Yogi Berras advice It aint over till
  its over.

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Week 7 A Series without a Conjunction

• A series is a group of three or more similar
  items that go in the same slot of a sentence.
  Series must be similar in form (for example, all
  nouns or all verbs) because they have the same
  grammatical function. The series can be in any
  part of the sentence.
• A, B, C (in any part of the sentence).
• Use this structure to give more information and
  place emphasis on the series. To create equal
  emphasis on each part of the series and to create
  interest with a staccato sound, do not use a
  conjunction between the last two of the series.
• Examples
• The United States has a government of the people,
  by the people, for the people.
• The teacher handled the situation with patience,
  wisdom, humor.
• It took courage, skill, knowledge- and he had
  them all.
• Their friendship has endured, in spite of
  arguments, boyfriends, distance.

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Week 8 A Series with a Variation

• The variation is using a repeated conjunction
  between each part of the series.
• A or B or C. (in any place in the sentence)
• A and B and C. (in any place in the sentence)
• Use this structure when you want a tumbling
  effect throughout the series.
• Examples
• Looking down from the Empire State Building,
  Jeannine felt thrilled and amazed- and scared.
• Even though he is smart, I have never seen Keith
  arrogant or annoyed or impatient.
• Many ice hockey games lead to broken ribs or
  sprained knees or dislocated shoulders- or worse.

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Week 9 A Series of Balanced Pairs

• This is a series of pairs, two or three or four,
  with a conjunction between the items in each
  pair. This creates a rhythm, which you need to
  listen to. Do the paired words sound right
  together, is there a progression that is ordered,
  are the items balanced?
• A and B , C and D , E and F (anywhere in the
  sentence). Remember, you can use other
  conjunctions other than and and or.
• Examples
• Great artists often seem to occur in pairs
  Michelangelo and da Vinci, Gaugin and van Gogh,
  Monet and Cezanne.
• The textbook clearly showed the distinctions
  between prose and poetry, denotation and
  connotation, deduction and induction.
• Eager yet fearful, confident but somewhat
  suspicious, Jason eyed the barber who would give
  him his first haircut.

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Week 10 An Introductory Series of Appositives

• An appositive is simply another name for a noun
  used somewhere else in the sentence. In this
  structure, the appositives will occur in a series
  at the beginning of the sentence.
• Appositive, appositive, appositive summary word
  S V .
• The summary word may be one of these such,
  all, those, this, many, each, which, what, these,
  something, something sometimes it is the
  subject, sometimes a modifier for the subject.
• Use this structure when you want a stylized
  sentence that will squeeze a lot of information
  in one slot of space.
• Examples
• The depressed, the stressed, the lonely, the
  fearful- all have trouble dealing with problems.
• Gluttony, lust, envy- which is the worst sin?
• Hawaiians, Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese- these
  ethnic groups make up much of Hawaiis diverse
  population.
• Bull riding, camel racing, bronc riding, and
  roping- these events mean rodeo to many people
  they mean money to the cowboys.

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Week 11 An Internal Series of Appositives or
Modifiers

• You can have a series of appositives anywhere in
  the sentences. They may come between the subject
  and verb, between two subjects, and so on.
• S - or ( appositive, appositive, appositive
  ) or V .
• The appositives can be replaced by modifiers.
• Because this series is a dramatic interruption to
  the sentence, it must have dashes before and
  after it. If the appositives relay less important
  information, you may choose to have parentheses
  enclosing the appositives.
• Examples
• He learned the necessary qualities of political
  life- guile, ruthlessness, and garrulity- by
  carefully studying his fathers life.
• On our trip to Italy, the major sights- the
  Vatican in Rome, the Duomo in Florence, the tower
  in Pisa- didnt impress us as much as the food
  and kindness of the people.
• Many of the books kids enjoy reading (Animal
  Farm, Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter novels)
  take them into another world.
• The basic writing skills (good vocabulary,
  knowledge of grammar, sense of style) can be
  learned by almost everyone.

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Week 13 A Variation A Single Appositive or a
Pair

• Instead of the series from last week, only use
  one or a pair of appositives.
• S - or ( or , appositive - or ) or , V
  .
• Your choice of punctuation around the
  appositve(s) can produce one of three effects
• Dashes make the appositive dramatic
• Parentheses make the appositive whisper
• Commas make the appositive blend
• Examples
• The sudden burst of light- a camera flash-
  startled me.
• Many people (especially ecologists) say that we
  need to do something about global warming.
• My latest desire, to go to Europe this summer,
  will have to wait until I get more money.

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Week 14 and 15 Dependent Clauses in a Pair or
in a Series

• A dependent clause is what it sounds like. It
  depends on the main clause to continue its idea.
  In a pair or series of dependent clauses, the
  clauses must be parallel in structure and they
  must express conditions or situations or
  provisions that are dependent upon the idea
  expressed in the main clause. These clauses can
  come at the beginning or end of a sentence.
• If DC , if DC , if DC , then S
  V .
• When DC , when DC , when DC , S
  V .
• S V that DC , that DC ,
  that DC .
• Remember, you can have just a pair, if you
  like.
• Use this structure rarely. It is helpful
• at the end of a single paragraph to summarize
  main points
• in structuring a thesis statement having three or
  more parts
• in the introductory or concluding paragraph to
  bring together the main points of a composition
  in single sentence.
• Examples
• If he had the money, if he had the time, if he
  had a companion, he would take that trip around
  the world.
• I know that she was right, that her reasons were
  convincing and that Id be better off if I did
  it, but I still didnt want to move to Canada.
• She had to refuse the vacation package when she
  had no time, when she had no money, when she had
  no one to watch her children.

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Week 16 Repetition of a Key Term

• When a key term is important enough to be
  repeated, it can come anywhere in the sentence,
  but usually at the end. You may repeat the word
  exactly as it is, or you may use another form
  brute may become brutal breathe may become
  breathtaking battle may become battling.
• S V key term - or , repeated key term.
• Using a dash suggests a longer pause or break
  in thought than the comma
• When using this structure, make sure that the
  repeated term is not a complete sentence and that
  it is a word worth repeating.
• Examples
• We live in an uncertain world- the inner world,
  the world of the mind.
• We all have problems but we can find a solution,
  a solution that works, a solution that is
  equitable.
• The warning in the Tarot cards- an ominous
  warning about the dangers of air flight- could
  not deter Marsha from volunteering for the first
  Mars shot.

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Week 17 A Variation Same Word Repeated in
Parallel Structure

• S V repeated key word in same position
  of the sentence .
• This repetition can occur in many different
  forms
• Repeat an effective adjective or adverb in
  phrases or clauses with parallel construction
• She has an incredibly satisfying life, satisfying
  because of her career and satisfying because of
  her family.
• Repeat the same preposition in a series
• He has known her for many years, before she went
  to college, before she was a star, before she won
  the Oscar.
• Repeat the same noun as object of different
  prepositions
• This government is of the people, by the people,
  for the people.
• Repeat the same modifying word in phrases that
  begin with different prepositions
• Sydney devoted his life to those selfish people,
  for their selfish cause, but clearly with his own
  selfish motives dominating his every action.
• Repeat the same intensifiers
• The baseball game was very exciting, very
  enjoyable, but very long.
• Repeat the same verb or alternate forms of the
  same word
• In order to survive in war, a person needs
  training, a person needs courage, and, most of
  all, a person needs luck.