Adjectives, Adverbs, and Prepositional Phrases
The speed of modern basketball is surprising.
It is often surprising.
It is surprising to the spectator.
The speed of modern basketball is often surprising to the spectator.
Mom took us to Disney World.
Dad took us to Disney World.
Mom and Dad took us to Disney World.
Richard Wright was born a sharecropper's son.
He fought valiantly for an education.
(Begin with--Born)
(don't forget the comma)
Born a sharecropper's son, Richard Wright fought valiantly for an education.
The walking catfish can survive on land for a long time.
The walking catfish is a recent import to North America.
(Appositive phrase---a recent import....)
(don't forget the comma)
A recent import to North America, the walking catfish can survive on land for a long time.
The walking catfish, a recent import to North America, can survive on land for a long time.
Silvia Earle tests diving suits.
The suits enable her to descend 380 meters.
(use that enable...)
Silvia Earle tests diving suits that enable her to descend 380 meters.
The tired fans left the stadium.
The fans left quietly.
They left after the game.
The tired fans quietly left the stadium after the game.
After the game, the tired fans quietly left the stadium.
Quietly, the tired fans left the stadium after the game.
Meat provides essential protein.
Beans provide essential protein.
Rice provides essential protein.
Meat, beans, and rice provide essential protein.
We were elated by the news.
We prepared a celebration.
(begin with Elated)
(don't forget the comma)
Elated by the news, we prepared a celebration.
That noise sounds like a barking dog.
It is the voice of a barking frog.
(begin with ---The voice of...)
(don't forget the comma)
The voice of a barking frog, that noise sounds like a barking dog.
That noise, the voice of a barking frog, sounds like a barking dog.
At camp we get up.
The sun rises.
(use when...)
At camp we get up when the sun rises.
Basketball rules have changed.
The rules have changed since 1891.
The rules have changed greatly.
Basketball rules have changed greatly since 1891.
The rules of basketball have changed greatly since 1891.
The actors rehearsed their lines.
The musicians tuned their instruments.
(Use and; don't forget the comma.)
The actors rehearsed their lines, and the musicians tuned their instruments.
Eudora Welty's stories are full of eccentric characters.
The stories are set in rural places.
(Begin with Set)
(don't forget the comma)
Set in rural places, Eudora Welty's stories are full of eccentric characters.
The railroad worm looks like a train with a red headlight.
The railroad worm is actually a light-producing beetle.
(appositive phrase--actually a light-producing...)
Actually a light-producing beetle, the railroad worm looks like a train with a red headlight.
The railroad worm, actually a light-producing beetle, looks like a train with a red headlight.
We are going to the fair tonight.
Nancy told me.
(use that...)
Nancy told me that we are going to the fair tonight.
In the first games, players shot a soccer ball.
The players shot at a peach basket.
The peach basket was hanging.
In the first games, players shot a soccer ball at a hanging peach basket.
Space probes may one day encounter life in another part of the universe.
So far, there have been no signs of life.
(Use but; don't forget the comma.)
Space probes may one day encounter life in another part of the universe, but so far, there have been no signs of life.
We saw an eagle.
The eagle was flying overhead.
We saw an eagle flying overhead.
My children are kind, compassionate adults.
My children volunteer regularly at various organizations.
Kind, compassionate adults, my children volunteer regularly at various organizations.
Bernie told us something.
We wanted to hear this.
(use ....what)
Bernie told us what we wanted to hear.
Players may organize a play and then execute the play.
They may organize a play for hours.
They execute the play during the game.
They execute the play in seconds.
Players may organize a play for hours and then execute it in seconds during the game.
Players may organize a play for hours and then during the game execute it in seconds.
The players rushed to home plate.
The coach rushed to home plate.
The players protested the umpire's call.
The coach protested the umpire's call.
(Use both, and)
Both the players and the coach rushed to home plate and protested the umpire's call.
The Muses of Greek mythology ruled over the arts.
They inspired artists in their work.
(begin with-- Ruling over... OR Inspiring artists...)
(don't forget the comma)
Ruling over the arts, the Muses of Greek mythology inspired artists in their work.
Inspiring artists in their work, the Muses of Greek mythology ruled over the arts.
The kiss is a touching of their noses and front teeth.
(...a touching of their...)
Prairie dogs greet each other with a kiss, a touching of their noses and front teeth.
The ticket seller refused to admit us.
My father wanted to know why.
My father wanted to know why the ticket seller refused to admit us.