Short/Minor Sentence

Short/Minor Sentence Sentence Structure

Short/Minor Sentence • Short sentence This is a sentence that, although brief, is grammatically sound. As a minimum it will contain a subject which controlsa verb. Thus: Florence (subject) was gone (verb). • Minor sentence This is a sentence that is usually short but always grammatically unsound. Thus: No reason. No note. Nothing.(There is neither verb nor subject in any of these minor sentences.) Sentence Structure

Short/Minor Sentence • The function of a short or minor sentence is to emphasise a particular point or establish a particular mood or tone. Sentence Structure

repetition – how to lay out an answer • “Blah.” - short sentence • “Bluh.” - minor sentence • This emphasises that … – then answer the actual question Sentence Structure

Short Sentence Television, that clunky huge thing squatting in a corner of the living room, anchorsviewers to a distant past (at least five years!) where as soon as dinner was over the family would assemble for a bit of communal Coronation Street. It is a fossil. It is history. Sentence Structure

Short Sentence - Question Analyse any aspect of the writer’s use of language (in this case, ‘short sentence’) that illustrates her attitude to television 2 marks Note that in your answer you must identify the writer’s attitude Sentence Structure

Short sentence - Answer • “It is history.”– short sentence • This emphasises that television is a thing of the past. The writer believes it has had its day in the sun and it is now time to move on. Sentence Structure

Minor Sentence For you the television might as well be in a museum alongside the penny farthing, such is the tsunami of digital technologies that has flooded your lives. Smartphone? Got it. Tablet? Got it. XBox4? Got it. Smartwatch? Getting it. And this is just the start. Sentence Structure

Minor Sentence - Question Analyse any aspect of the writer’s use of language that illustrates her attitude to new technologies? 2 marks Note that in your answer you must identify the writer’s attitude Sentence Structure

RePETITION- Answer • “Got it … Got it …” – repetition • This emphasises the sense that these are ‘must have’ items for young people, whether they need them or not; it is as if they are addicted to technology and cannot live without the latest model or upgrade. The writer is not impressed. Sentence Structure

Minor Sentence • On a cold, bright November day I stood among a million almond trees and breathed in the sweet air. I was in Central Valley, California. Before me was a vision of how the British countryside may look one day. Before me were fields of pomegranates, pistachios, grapes and apricots. Before me in the distance were almost two million dairy cows, producing six billion dollar’s worth of milk a year. Sentence Structure

Repetition - Question Analyse any aspect of the writer’s use of language (in this case, ‘repetition’) that creates a positive impression of Central Valley. 2 marks Sentence Structure

Short/Minor Sentence