Composition

Posts in Think and Speak tagged ‘Composition’

1
Fragments

Say whether these short utterances make whole sentences or not; and if they don’t, add whatever is necessary.

Examine each group of words and say whether it is a complete sentence or not. If it is not, make whatever changes you think necessary, until you are satisfied that you have a complete sentence.

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2
Statements, Questions and Commands

Choose a word from our list, and then use it in any one of the three basic types of sentence — if possible.

Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.

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3
How Could You Tell?

Find a way to let people know what is happening without actually saying it.

‘Show, don’t tell’ is one of the first rules of good story-telling. Rather than make bald statements about a person or situation, the author assigns actions or dialogue to his characters from which the reader infers facts that he has not been explicitly told — much more satisfying for everyone. How would you show (without actually saying in so many words) the following?

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4
Jigsaw Sentences

Join each group of sentences together to make single sentence, in as many ways as you can.

Combine each group of two or more sentences into a single sentence. Change any words you like so long as the basic ideas remain the same; try introducing speech, personal names or any descriptive details you like. Do not be satisfied with the first sentence you think of; think of several, and choose the best. Some sentences are from NL Clay’s textbooks, others are drawn from English literature.

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