Sentence Imitating

1. Sentence Imitating Becoming a better writer

2. Commas in a series • Mom asked that I get bread, milk and juice at the store. • Imitation: Dad said to buy batteries, peas, and ice cream at Costco. • Now, write your own sentence that imitates the structure of the one above, listing three nouns in a series.ca

3. Verbs in a series • Typically Broadway performers must be able to sing, dance and act to be successful in the business. • I have never seen someone who can talk, text and drive while also driving a car. • Now, write your own sentence that imitates the structure of the one above, listing three verbsin a series.

4. Prepositional Phrases • Out the door, down the stairs and up the street she ran quickly to meet her boyfriend. • Imitation: Over the river, through the woods, and up the path Grandmother walked to get back to her cabin. • Imitate the sentence using prepositional phrases.

5. Appositive Phrase, ending with a dependent clause • Keith, the boy in the rumpled shorts and shirt, did not know he was being watched as he entered room 215 of the Mountain View Inn. • Madison, the student with the most good grades and good behavior didn’t realize that the teacher noticed when she always did the right thing. • Imitate the following sentence by including an appositive phrase, and ending with a dependent clause.

6. Appositive Phrase • Avon, a rather small snail, read a book every day. • Miss Stevens, a big Aggie Fan, watches the Aggies play each week. • Imitate the sentence by including an appositive phrase.

7. Adverbial Phrase • Darcy can build a pyramid in less than a minute. • HOW does Darcy the build the pyramid? In less than a minute. An adverb tells us when, where, how, to what extent or in what manner an action is performed. • Imitation: Students can be in their seats 5 seconds after the bell rings. • Imitate the sentence above by ending with an adverbial phrase.

8. Adverbial Phrase • In June of last year, Tony decided to move to Arkansas. • Imitation: In two years I should have my masters degree. • Imitate the sentence by putting the adverbial phrase at the beginning of the sentence.

9. Adjective Phrases • Covered with sweat, the man started the long walk home. • Adjectives are words that describe nouns. Adjective phrases are groups of words that describe a noun. • Imitation: Sick with worry, the child’s mother wondered when he would get home.

10. Adjective Phrase/Adverbial Phrase • Jumping in front of the frozen TV picture, he waves the remote in circles like it’s a magic wand. • Screaming and crying, the toddler threw a tantrum on the floor of the ladies department at Stonebrier Mall.