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Today’s episode is a manifestation of what I have always emphasised that single words do not work in isolation for improved English Language expressions. Make simple sentences to demonstrate your understanding of those words, phrases and any another clause which do not express a complete idea in isolation.
We have dealt with various parts of speech and the challenge is that do not treat them as individual words. If possible, make workable sentences out of them. You will never regret because you will have developed your vocabulary and sentence construction capabilities.
Words work in groups when speaking or writing. Single words on their own do not make sense. As we saw in earlier episodes we started by giving definitions and made it clear that an end on that is unhelpful to any learner.
For example, in writing we are made to understand how present participles can be used to create a sense of immediacy. You also need to understand how verb choice can be used to convey action. By doing this we have moved from mere definitions of verbs and other parts of speech.
Writers often try to engage the reader in the story by creating a sense of immediacy. This, as already stated, can be achieved by using present participles, which suggest that the action is happening as we read. How can you use language to convey action? Again we are shown that writers can convey the action in their narratives through their careful use of verbs which can help to heighten the tension in their writing.
This demonstrates the movement away from simple definitions and leave it naked like that. Let us have a look from the following extract borrowed from a private source: “I walked around the back of her, my hand never leaving her flesh. I could feel the veins throbbing as I stroked them, and when I pressed down on one near the bottom of her neck
I could see it standing out, blue and beautiful, begging to be ripped open and sucked dry. I bared my teeth and leaned forward, jaws wide open.
The following verbs have been highlighted. Walked, stroked, pressed, sucked, bared and leaned. Whose actions do these verbs refer to? Why do you think the writer has used past tense verbs in the same paragraph as the present participle? What effect does this create?
How do you build detail into simple sentences? I repeat a simple sentence does not have to be simple. It can reveal lots of information and can be manipulated to achieve various effects. We have already given an example of such a sentence where one writer has elaborated it by adding detail.
For example: With one single gesture, I swallowed the contents of the bottle. A simple sentence has only one clause, or is a main clause. A clause is a group of words including a verb. So the writer might have started the sentence: I swallowed the contents.
They might have expanded the noun phrase: contents of the bottle. The sentence then reads: I swallowed the contents of the bottle. Detail can then be added to make it more interesting, for example: by using an adverbial phrase to say how he swallowed it. With one gesture, I swallowed the contents of the bottle.
By using adjectives to describe what the gesture was like. With one angry gesture, I swallowed the contents of the bottle. By using an adverb to say when he swallowed the contents of the bottle. Suddenly, with one angry gesture, I swallowed the contents of the bottle.
How do you use simple sentences to create dramatic impact? Simple sentences can also be very short and just as effective. Writers in general often use short sentences for dramatic impact.
Better writers add detail to a simple sentence by carefully selecting adverbs, adverbial phrases, adjectives and by expanding noun phrases. They use a short simple sentence for a key moment in the plot. See the example below and consider how the short, simple sentences are used to describe the character’s desperation to breathe which heightens his feelings of panic as he drowns.
This time he is underwater, running, feet sinking deeper and deeper into the bed. The surface is within his reach if he raises his arms, but he can’t get his head out of the water. He has to breathe. The compulsion to inhale is huge. But he can’t, he mustn’t.
Now consider whether any of your sentences might be effective as a more elaborated simple sentence. See the prompts below to help you to elaborate your sentence. Choose different nouns or noun phrases. Show more by using adjectives.
Add more information with adverbs or adverbial phrases (words or phrases that tell you when, where or how something happens). Learn from such articles for better writing.
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