SHIFTING WORD ORDER IN THE SENTENCELesson 28

By Joseph C. Blumenthal

Sentences are usually parts of a paragraph—with other sentences before and after them. In a particular position, one sentence pattern might suit your purpose much better than another. Should the pattern of any preceding sentences influence a sentence that you might, at the moment, by writing? (yes, no)

Sentences are usually parts of a paragraph—with other sentences before and after them. In a particular position, one sentence pattern might suit your purpose much better than another. Should the pattern of any preceding sentences influence a sentence that you might, at the moment, by writing? (yes, no)

You may wish to avoid repeating a word or a sentence pattern. You may consider that one pattern sounds better than another in a particular situation, or that it gives an idea more needed emphasis.

Could a sentence be good in itself but poor at a particular point in the paragraph? (yes, no)

You may wish to avoid repeating a word or a sentence pattern. You may consider that one pattern sounds better than another in a particular situation, or that it gives an idea more needed emphasis.

Could a sentence be good in itself but poor at a particular point in the paragraph? (yes, no)

Because English is a subject- first language, we naturally begin most of our sentences with the subject.

a. The whole pile of dishes went down.b. Down went the whole pile of dishes.

In which sentence does the subject come first?

Because English is a subject- first language, we naturally begin most of our sentences with the subject.

a. The whole pile of dishes went down.b. Down went the whole pile of dishes.

In which sentence does the subject come first?

Another way of achieving sentence variety is to begin a sentence, now and then, with an adverbial modifier—an adverb, and adverb phrase, or an adverb clause.

I never trusted ladders after that experience.

What adverb phase can be put ahead of the subject in the following sentence?

Another way of achieving sentence variety is to begin a sentence, now and then, with an adverbial modifier—an adverb, and adverb phrase, or an adverb clause.

I never trusted ladders after that experience.

What adverb phase can be put ahead of the subject in the following sentence?

a. I never trusted ladders after that experience.

b. After that experience, I never trusted ladders.

Which sentence would it be better to use after you had written a number of subject-first sentences?

a. I never trusted ladders after that experience.

b. After that experience, I never trusted ladders.

Which sentence would it be better to use after you had written a number of subject-first sentences?

Our sales increased as soon as we lowered our price.

What adverb clause can be put ahead of the subject in the following sentence?

Our sales increased as soon as we lowered our price.

What adverb clause can be put ahead of the subject in the following sentence?

a. The fish jumped the hook as I pulled in my line.

b. As I pulled in my line, the fish jumped the hook.

Which sentence arouses more suspense by keeping you guessing until the end?

a. The fish jumped the hook as I pulled in my line.

b. As I pulled in my line, the fish jumped the hook.

Which sentence arouses more suspense by keeping you guessing until the end?

Putting an adverbial modifier, now and then, ahead of the subject adds variety to your writing. It also creates a greater feeling of (suspense, confusion).

Putting an adverbial modifier, now and then, ahead of the subject adds variety to your writing. It also creates a greater feeling of (suspense, confusion).

Another reason for departing from the usual subject-first word order is to give emphasis to a particular idea. On entering your room, you would be more likely to notice a piece of furniture if it (were, were not) in its usual position.

Another reason for departing from the usual subject-first word order is to give emphasis to a particular idea. On entering your room, you would be more likely to notice a piece of furniture if it (were, were not) in its usual position.

In the very same way, a word that has been moved from its usual position attracts more attention.

The normal word order of an English sentence is—

Subject—Verb—Compliment

If we put the compliment first, it would attract (more, less) attention.

In the very same way, a word that has been moved from its usual position attracts more attention.

The normal word order of an English sentence is—

Subject—Verb—Compliment

If we put the compliment first, it would attract (more, less) attention.

The noun money is the (subject compliment, direct object) of the verb would accept.

Terry would not accept this money.

Which sentence gives greater emphasis to the direct object money?

a. Terry would not accept this money.b. This money Terry would not

accept.

Which sentence gives greater emphasis to the direct object money?

a. Terry would not accept this money.b. This money Terry would not

accept.

The noun hero follows the linking verb was and is therefore a (subject compliment, direct object).

Jackie Robinson certainly was a hero.

The noun hero follows the linking verb was and is therefore a (subject compliment, direct object).

Jackie Robinson certainly was a hero.

Which sentence gives greater emphasis to the subject compliment hero?

a. A hero Jackie Robinson certainly was.b. Jackie Robinson certainly was a hero.

Which sentence gives greater emphasis to the subject compliment hero?

a. A hero Jackie Robinson certainly was.b. Jackie Robinson certainly was a hero.

The most common position of adjectives is (before, after) the nouns they modify.

His strong, calloused hands were no strangers to work.

The most common position of adjectives is (before, after) the nouns they modify.

His strong, calloused hands were no strangers to work.

In which sentence are the italicized adjectives given more emphasis?

a. His strong, calloused hands were no strangers to work.

b. His hands, strong and calloused, were no strangers to work.

In which sentence are the italicized adjectives given more emphasis?

a. His strong, calloused hands were no strangers to work.

b. His hands, strong and calloused, were no strangers to work.

The italicized adjectives in sentence b are given more emphasis because they (are, are not) in their usual position.

a. His strong, calloused hands were no strangers to work.

b. His hands, strong and calloused, were no strangers to work.

The italicized adjectives in sentence b are given more emphasis because they (are, are not) in their usual position.

a. His strong, calloused hands were no strangers to work.

b. His hands, strong and calloused, were no strangers to work.

In which sentence are the italicized adjectives given more emphasis?

a. The team, tired, and discouraged, trudged back to the locker room.

b. The tired and discouraged team trudged back to the locker room.

In which sentence are the italicized adjectives given more emphasis?

a. The team, tired, and discouraged, trudged back to the locker room.

b. The tired and discouraged team trudged back to the locker room.

Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.

1. For fifty years Grandmother attended the same church.

Write the word or phrase which is emphasized by a change from its normal position:

2. Resign he will not.

Write the word or phrase which is emphasized by a change from its normal position:

3. Of all the cakes I have ever eaten, this was the most delicious.

Write the word or phrase which is emphasized by a change from its normal position:

a. The Turners had little ready money although they owned a lot of land.

b. Although they owned a lot of land, the Turners had a little ready money.

4. If you had written many sentences with the subject first, which sentence would break the monotony? (a, b)

a. When it was first delivered, the Gettysburg Address made little impression.

b. The Gettysburg Address made little impression when it was first delivered.

5. If you had written many sentences with the subject first, which sentence would break monotony? (a, b)

For the sake of variety, move the adverb clause to the beginning of the sentence and set it off with a comma:

6. Dad would bring me a pendant whenever he returned from a trip.

For the sake of variety, move the adverb clause to the beginning of the sentence and set it off with a comma:

7. Sandy makes new friends wherever she goes.

For the sake of variety, move the adverb clause to the beginning of the sentence and set it off with a comma:

8. A host should not eat until every guest has been served.

In this and the following frames, emphasize the italicized words by moving them from their normal position to another position in the sentence.

9. He never could understand geometry.

In this and the following frames, emphasize the italicized words by moving them from their normal position to another position in the sentence.

10. I have never eaten such food.

In this and the following frames, emphasize the italicized words by moving them from their normal position to another position in the sentence.

11. I never expect to be a millionaire.

In this and the following frames, emphasize the italicized words by moving them from their normal position to another position in the sentence.

12. He would go in spite of everyone’s advice.

(Are you moving only the italicized word or words for emphasis?)

In this and the following frames, emphasize the italicized words by moving them from their normal position to another position in the sentence.

13. Fran’s original and imaginative paintings won the interest of a famous artist.

14. You can give a word or word group its greatest emphasis by leaving it in is normal position. (true, false)

15. Putting an adverb or an adverbial word group ahead of the subject should not be done too often because it is the exception rather than the rule. (true, false)

You are done!!!