Brushstrokes

Image Grammar

Painting pictures with words…

Painting with…1). Participles: A participle is a

verb that is used as an adjective (descriptive word) and most often ends in –ing (present tense) or –ed and –en (past tense.) Participles evoke (bring to mind) action.

Examples:Reminder: Participles are verbs that are used as

adjectives to help add imagery to writing.Verb Participlebake baked chickenEx. I took the baked chicken out of the oven before it burned.

snore snoring fatherEx. My snoring father bellowed loudly for hours last night and no one was able to sleep.

hiss, slither, coil hissing, slithering, coiling snakesEx: Hissing, slithering, and coiling, the diamond-scaled snakes attacked their prey.

Participles

Part One Directions:

Circle the participles used in each sentence.

1. Shuddering, the dog backed into the corner away from its attacker.

2. The rhino, caught in the tangled rope, looked for freedom.

3. The burning log fell into the fire.

Let’s Practice…

Check your answers…Part One Directions:

Circle the participles used in each sentence.

1. Shuddering, the dog backed into the corner away from its attacker.

2. The rhino, caught in the tangled rope, looked for freedom.

3. The burning log fell into the fire.

Part Two Directions: Re-write each verb as aparticiple and then use each participle correctly in asentence.

Example: open: opened doorFortunately, the opened door blocked the blinding sunrays from hurting our eyes.

Your turn…

1) cough ________________

2) sink ________________

3) burn ______________

4) sleep _______________

Place participles in four different spots in a sentence

1. Immediately before the subject:– Heaving, I lifted the truck tire all by myself.– Heaving and puffing, Joan finished the marathon in record time.

2. Immediately after the subject:– I, heaving, lifted the heavy baby out of the crib.– Janice, heaving and puffing, lifted several heavy sacks of

potatoes.

3. As a participle phrase, immediately before:– Hollering like a baby, Jana screamed about the splinter in her

thumb.

4. As a participle phrase, immediately after:– The nurse, waiting patiently for the Jana’s tantrum to subside,

took the splinter out quickly with a pair of tweezers.

Examples:Reminder: An absolute is a two word combinationthat is a noun + “ing” or “ed” verb added onto a

sentence. Ex: The cat attacked the dog.Claws digging, feet kicking, the cat attacked the dog.

Ex: The branches stretched into the air.Limbs reaching, the branches stretched into the air.

Let’s Practice…Absolutes

Part One Directions: Circle the absolutes used

in each sentence.

1. Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the diver peered once more at the specimen.

2. Jaws crackling, tongue curling, the kitten yawned tiredly, awaking from her nap.

3. As I neared the peak of the mountain, shoes digging and arms pumping, I strode to the top.

Check your answers…Absolutes

Part One Directions: Circle the absolutes used

in each sentence.

1. Mind racing, anxiety overtaking, the diver peered once more at the specimen.

2. Jaws crackling, tongue curling, the kitten yawned tiredly, awaking from her nap.

3. As I neared the peak of the mountain, shoes digging and arms pumping, I strode to the top.

Part Two Directions: Read each sentencebelow. Then, re-write and strengthen by addingat least one absolute to each sentence. You can addmore details to strengthen the writing, too!

Example: The man laughed loudly.Belly shaking, arms slapping, the man laughed loudly.

1. The car swerved to a stop.

2. When he finished the race, he got out of the pool.

3. The magician amazed the crowd.

Appositives: a second noun or anoun phrase that adds a secondimage to the first/preceding noun.It will always come after the firstnoun and is used to help expanddetails in the reader’s imagination.

Painting with…

Examples:Reminder: an appositive is a second noun or a noun phrase thatadds a second image to the first/preceding noun. It will alwayscome after the first noun and is used to help expand details in thereader’s imagination.

Ex: The raccoon enjoys eating turtle eggs.The raccoon, a scavenger, enjoys eating turtle eggs.

Ex. My father finished the marathon first in hisage group.My father, an athlete, finished the marathon first in his age group.

Let’s Practice…Appositives Part One Directions: Circle the appositivesused in each sentence.

1. The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh, pure spray into the creek.

2. The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the alligator’s giant teeth sink into its scales.

3. My dog, a beggar, waited at the foot of the table for scraps to fall.

o .f-..

Check your answers…Appositives Part One Directions: Circle the appositivesused in each sentence.

1. The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh, pure spray into the creek.

2. The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the alligator’s giant teeth sink into its scales.

3. My dog, a beggar, waited at the foot of the table for scraps to fall.

Part Two Directions: Read each sentence below. Then, re-write and strengthen by addingone appositive to each sentence. You can add moredetails to strengthen the writing, too!

Example: My head is throbbing.My head, a swollen mass, is throbbing.

1. The old woman stared blankly out the window.

2. My uncle won the contest.

3. Justin Timberlake performed at the Staples Center.

Painting with…

Adjectives out of order: amplifythe details of an image; they createa spotlight and intensify the imageby creating a different rhythm;usually used in fiction.

Examples:Reminder: Adjectives out of order: amplify the details of animage; they create a spotlight and intensify the image by creatinga different rhythm; usually used in fiction.

Ex: The large, red-eyed angry moosecharged the intruder.The large moose, red-eyed and angry,charged the intruder.Ex. The long and rectangular yard was large.The yard, long and rectangular, was like afootball field.

Let’s Practice…Part One Directions: Circle the adjectives out

of order used in each sentence.

1. The woman, old and wrinkled, smiled upon her newborn great-grandson with pride.

2. My green skirt, scratchy and stiff, was uncomfortable this morning at work.

3. As the gazelle paused in the field, the cheetah, tired and hungry, approached what soon would become his dinner.

Check your answers…Part One Directions: Circle the adjectives out

of order used in each sentence.

1. The woman, old and wrinkled, smiled upon her newborn great-grandson with pride.

2. My green skirt, scratchy and stiff, was uncomfortable this morning at work.

3. As the gazelle paused in the field, the cheetah, tired and hungry, approached what soon would become his dinner.

Part Two Directions: Read each sentencebelow. Then, re-write and strengthen by placingthe adjectives out of order. You can add moredetails to strengthen the writing, too!

Example: The harsh and aggressive boxer feltno compassion for his contender.The boxer, harsh and aggressive, felt nocompassion for his contender.

1. The feeble and stiff old man grasped his coat.

2. The dark and twisted character spooked the audience during the movie.

3. His wrinkled and heavy eyelids started to close as the night wore on.

Painting with…Action verbs: In sentences written inactive voice, the subject performs theaction expressed in the verb; the subjectacts. Sentences in active voice are generally clearer and more direct than thosein passive voice. Your goal is to replacepassive voice with active voice and beingverbs with doing verbs.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_actpass.html

Examples:Passive Voice Active Voice

Ex: The runaway horse was ridden into town by an old, white-whiskered rancher.

The old, white whiskered rancher rode the runaway horse into town.

Ex: The grocery store was robbed by two armed men.

Two armed men robbed the grocery store.

Being Verb Action Verb

Ex. The gravel road was on the left side of the barn

The gravel road curled around the left side of the barn.

Ex. The tall shadow was in the doorway.

Ex: The tall shadow loomed in the doorway.

Let’s Practice…Part One Directions: Circle the action verbs

used in each sentence.

1. Big Bear Lake echoed with sounds of geese.

2. The baby slept until morning, only stirring once in the night.

3. The road crept around the bend forcing drivers to brake slightly as they rounded the curve.

Check your answers…Part One Directions: Circle the action verbs

used in each sentence.

1. Big Bear Lake echoed with sounds of geese.

2. The baby slept until morning, only stirring once in the night.

3. The road crept around the bend forcing drivers to brake slightly as they rounded the curve.

Part Two Directions: Read each sentencebelow. Then, replace the passive verbs with action verbs and being verbs with doing verbs.

Example: The kitten was tired.

The exhausted kitten stretched its tired body

across the pillow.

1. The production was put on by OCSA alumni.

2. The test was passed by all of Ms. Mo’s students.

3. Her head was pounding.