Students understanding the complexity of language
 

Chapter 07-04: Sentence Variety – Analyzing Examples

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chapter 7: sentence variety - analyzing examples II

The English language is messy, and many times analyzing for  grammatical elements is not always as obvious as the simple examples that we use on the content pages. So to assist your ability to analyze  all the different texts you may encounter as you read, we want to offer a  few more sample analyses of more difficult texts.
 
For these more complicated examples, we review some or all  of the key  features discussed in Chapter 7. Please review these  examples closely, trying  to understand the choices made for the analysis. As always, if you have any questions, please ask your instructor  or start a conversation in your work group.

 

Analyzing for Sentence Variety – Example #1
Adapted from War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy:
 
The two young men, the student and the officer, friends from childhood, were of the same age and both handsome fellows, though not alike. Borís was tall and fair, and his calm and handsome face had regular, delicate features. Nicholas was short with curly hair and an open expression. Dark hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm. Nicholas blushed when he entered the drawing room. He evidently tried to find something to say, but failed. Borís on the contrary at once found his footing, and related quietly and humorously how he had known that doll Mimi when she was still quite a young lady, before her nose was broken; how she had aged during the five years he had known her, and how her head had cracked right across the skull. Having said this he glanced at Natásha. She turned away from him and glanced at her younger brother, who was screwing up his eyes and shaking with suppressed laughter, and unable to control herself any longer, she jumped up and rushed from the room as fast as her nimble little feet would carry her. Borís did not laugh.

For this example, we’ll analyze for sentence variety in the passage. First, separate the passage into sentences, then identify the main verb phrases to determine how many clauses are in each sentence:
 
  1. The two young men, the student and the officer, friends from childhood, were of the same age and both handsome fellows, though not alike.
  2. Borís was tall and fair, and his calm and handsome face had regular, delicate features.
  3. Nicholas was short with curly hair and an open expression.
  4. Dark hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm.
  5. Nicholas blushed when he entered the drawing room.
  6. He evidently tried to find something to say, but failed.
  7. Borís on the contrary at once found his footing, and related quietly and humorously how he had known that doll Mimi when she was still quite a young lady, before her nose was broken; how she had aged during the five years he had known her, and how her head had cracked right across the skull.
  8. Having said this he glanced at Natásha.
  9. She turned away from him and glanced at her younger brother, who was screwing up his eyes and shaking with suppressed laughter, and unable to control herself any longer, she jumped up and rushed from the room as fast as her nimble little feet would carry her.
  10. Borís did not laugh.
Sentence Variety
  1. Simple – one independent clause
  2. Compound – two independent clauses
  3. Simple – one independent clause
  4. Compound – two independent clauses
  5. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
  6. Compound – two independent clauses
    Could be identified as Simple since TRIED . . . BUT FAILED could be seen as a compound MVP, but the comma before the coordinating conjunction would argue for Compound
  7. Compound-Complex – two independent clauses (see argument above) and six dependent clauses
  8. Simple – one independent clause
    Note that HAVING SAID THIS is an adverbial present participle phrase, NOT a clause.
  9. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
    Note that since there is no comma preceding the coordinating conjunctions in the two clauses, each clause is identified as a single clause with a compound MVP
  10. Simple – one independent clause

 

Analyzing for Sentence Variety – Example #2
Adapted from The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
 
We have been here two weeks, and I haven’t felt like writing before, since that first day. I am sitting by the window now, up in this atrocious nursery, and there is nothing to hinder my writing as much as I please, save lack of strength. John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious. I am glad my case is not serious! But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing. John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him. Of course it is only nervousness. It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way! I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already! Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able—to dress and entertain, and order things. It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. I suppose John never was nervous in his life. He laughs at me so about this wallpaper!

 

For this example, we’ll analyze for sentence variety in the passage. First, separate the passage into sentences, then identify the main verb phrases to determine how many clauses are in each sentence:
 
  1. We have been here two weeks, and I haven’t felt like writing before, since that first day.
  2. I am sitting by the window now, up in this atrocious nursery, and there is nothing to hinder my writing as much as I please, save lack of strength.
  3. John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious.
  4. I am glad my case is not serious!
  5. But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing.
  6. John does not know how much I really suffer.
  7. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.
  8. Of course it is only nervousness.
  9. It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way!
  10. I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!
  11. Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able—to dress and entertain, and order things.
  12. It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby.
  13. I suppose John never was nervous in his life.
  14. He laughs at me so about this wallpaper!
Sentence Variety
  1. Compound – two independent clauses
    Note that SINCE THAT FIRST DAY is a prepositional phrase, NOT a clause.
  2. Compound-Complex – two independent clauses and one dependent clause
  3. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
  4. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
    Note the deleted THAT preceding MY CASE IS NOT SERIOUS
  5. Simple – one independent clause
  6. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
  7. Compound-Complex – two independent clauses and one dependent clause
    Note the deleted THAT preceding THERE IS NO REASON TO SUFFER – Also note that the comma preceding the coordinating conjunction signals THAT SATISFIES HIM as an independent clause
  8. Simple – one independent clause
  9. Simple – one independent clause
  10. Compound – two independent clauses
  11. Complex – one independent clause and two dependent clauses
  12. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
    Note the deleted THAT preceding MARY IS SO GOOD WITH THE BABY
  13. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clause
    Note the deleted THAT preceding JOHN NEVER WAS NERVOUS IN HIS LIFE
  14. Simple – one independent clause

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