chapter 7: practice exercises

The practice exercises on this page are designed to help you understand the concepts in this chapter more fully. These include both interactive exercises and more complex exercises. The list below offers a variety of interactive practice exercises for Chapter 7, covering the key concepts. 

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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 clausesCould 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 clauseNote that HAVING SAID THIS is an adverbial present participle phrase, NOT a clause.
9. Complex – one independent clause and one dependent clauseNote 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 #2Adapted 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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chapter 7: sentence variety – analyzing examples I

Now that we have analyzed an example passage for sentence  variety, let’s review a paragraph in context to reinforce the key  strategy that understanding sentence variety means recognizing all of  the independent and dependent clauses in each sentence:

Margot’s mind reeled. She could hear the listless,  scraping sounds of
fingertips against the door. It haunted her to  consider the sea of
faces outside. They were faces she once knew in a  different light, but
now they were putrid reflections of squalor and  decay. There was
nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes  except the grim
reminder that she was alone. She tried to ignore the  thought, but it
was difficult to swallow when she was the last bastion  of humanity. And
only death awaited her outside.

First we separate the sentences:

1. Margot’s mind reeled. 
2. She could hear the listless, scraping sounds of fingertips against the door. 
3. It haunted her to consider the sea of faces outside. 
4. They were faces she once knew in a different light, but now they were putrid reflections of squalor and decay. 
5. There was nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes except the grim reminder that she was alone. 
6. She tried to ignore the thought, but she was the last bastion of humanity. 
7. And only death awaited her outside.

From these seven sentences, we need to identify all clauses by finding the main verb phrases:

1. Margot’s mind reeled. 
2. She could hear the listless, scraping sounds of fingertips against the door. 
3. It haunted her to consider the sea of faces outside. 
4. They were faces she once knew in a different light, but now they were putrid reflections of squalor and decay. 
5. There was nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes except the grim reminder that she was alone. 
6. She tried to ignore the thought, but she was the last bastion of humanity. 
7. And only death awaited her outside.

Once we know where the clauses are, we can proceed to analyze for sentence variety:

1. Margot’s mind reeled. SIMPLE
2. She could hear the listless, scraping sounds of fingertips against the door. SIMPLE
3. It haunted her to consider the sea of faces outside. SIMPLE
4. They were faces [THAT] she once knew in a different light, but now they were putrid reflections of squalor and decay. COMPOUND-COMPLEX
5. There was nothing left for her to glean from their lifeless eyes except the grim reminder that she was alone. COMPLEX
6. She tried to ignore the thought, but she was the last bastion of humanity. COMPOUND
7. And only death awaited her outside. SIMPLE

NOTE:

• SCRAPING is an adjectival present participle phrase modifying SOUNDS
• [THAT] she once know – nominal THAT-clause (with a deleted THAT) – nominal appositive (renames FACES)
• BUT is a coordinating conjunction, not a dependent marker
• NOW is an adverb, not a dependent marker
• ONLY is an adjective, not a dependent marker

Remember, use key markers to identify both independent and  dependent
clauses, then determine the combination used to make up the  sentence.

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chapter 7: sentence variety

Before we can move
on to effective and appropriate punctuation, it is important that you
are able to understand the patterns of sentence variety. There are four
basic forms  of sentence variety:
 

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex
4. compound-complex. 

We’ll examine each form with examples and conclude this chapter by analyzing a short passage.
 
As a reminder, remember that a sentence must have at least one
independent clause to be grammatically correct, but most sentences will
have more than one clause, so the goal is to identify the form of all of
the clauses in each sentence to determine its sentence variety.
 
As always, whenever you analyze for clauses, you first identify all
of the Main Verb Phrases, then find the subject. From there, you need
to determine if a dependent marker precedes the subject. You will then
determine if each clause is independent or dependent. Your analysis
concludes when you count the number of independent and/or dependent
clauses in the sentence to determine its variety form.

Simple – a sentence which contains one independent clause only
 
Example: In extending the reach of discourse analysis to
engage with written text, we would do well, however, to  remember some
of the lessons learned in analysis of spoken language.
 

• we would do well, however, to remember some of the lessons learned in analysis of spoken language. 
• One independent clause

NOTE: the introductory structure is not a clause (no main verb phrase).

• in extending the reach – prepositional phrase
• extending the reach – nominal gerund phrase (object of the preposition IN)
• of discourse analysis – prepositional phrase
• to engage – infinitive phrase
• with written text – prepositional phrase

ALSO:

• however – conjunctive adverb
• to remember some of the lessons learned – infinitive phrase
• learned – adjectival past participle phrase modifying LESSONS
• in analysis – prepositional phrase
• of spoken language – prepositional phrase
• spoken – adjectival  past participle phrase modifying LANGUAGE

Compound – a sentence which contains two or more independent clauses only

Example: Text analysis was  developed earliest within
scriptural religions, for people were highly  motivated to find meaning
from holy books such as the Bible, Talmud,  Koran, or Baghavad Gita. 

• Text analysis was developed earliest within scriptural religions
• people were highly motivated to find meaning from holy books such as the Bible, Talmud, Koran, or Baghavad Gita.
• Two independent clauses

NOTE: Comma preceding the coordinating conjunction (FOR) is a KEY MARKER for coordinated independent clauses.ALSO:

• within scriptural religions – prepositional phrase
• to find meaning – nominal infinitive phrase
• from holy books – prepositional phrase
• such as the Bible, Talmud,  Koran, or Baghavad Gita – prepositional phrase

Complex – a sentence which contains only one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Example: To understand  writing, we need to explore the
practices that people engage in to  produce texts as well as the ways
that writing practices gain their meanings and functions as dynamic
elements of specific cultural  settings.

• we need to explore the practices that people engage in 
  
• One independent clause

• that people engage in to produce texts – adjectival relative clause modifying PRACTICES
• that writing practices gain their meanings and functions – adjectival relative clause modifying WAYS
• Two dependent clauses

NOTE:

• to understand writing – adverbial infinitive phrase
• to produce texts – adverbial infinitive phrase
• as well as the ways – prepositional phrase
• as dynamic elements – prepositional phrase
• of specific cultural settings – prepositional phrase

Compound-Complex – a sentence which contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Example: The absence of attention to writing as  a  social and productive practice has come about for reasons we discuss  below, but the effect has been to severely limit the analysis of written  text, closing off many lines of inquiry into how and why texts come to  be as they are. 

• The absence of attention to writing as a  social and productive practice has come about for reasons we discuss below
• the effect has been to severely limit the analysis of written text
• Two Independent Clauses 
• [that] we discuss below – adjectival relative clause (deleted THAT) modifying REASONS
• how and why texts come to be – nominal interrogative clause (object of the preposition INTO)
• as they are – adverbial subordinate clause modifying the infinitive phrase TO BE 
• Three Dependent Clauses

NOTE: Comma preceding the coordinating conjunction (FOR) is a KEY MARKER for coordinated independent clauses.ALSO:

• THE ABSENCE is the subject of the first independent clause
• of attention – prepositional phrase
• to writing – prepositional phrase
• as a social and productive practice – prepositional phrase
• to severely limit the analysis of written text – nominal infinitive phrase (direct object of HAS BEEN)
• of written text – prepositional phrase
• closing off many lines of inquiry – adverbial present participle phrase
• of inquiry – prepositional phrase

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Chapter 7: introduction

This chapter examines our language at the sentence level. But to fully understand sentence variety, you need to be able to identify independent clauses and dependent clauses. As a reminder, an independent clause is a clause that is able to stand alone as a sentence, with the subject as the first element in the clause, with no dependent marker preceding it. A dependent clause has a DEPENDENT MARKER (subordinator, relative, interrogative, or THAT) preceding the subject of the clause. Your ability to recognize independent clauses and dependent clauses is the key to success in analyzing for sentence variety.

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