A System for Writing Complex Sentences

8/28/13

The cat slept in the basket.

After a huge dinner of fish and milk, the cat slept soundly in a large wicker basket, filled with soft pillows.

By adding detail and

elaborating you can turn a simple sentence into a

Masterpiece

“Identify your simple subject and simple predicate.”

The birds

flew in the sky.

“Paint your Predicate”This means to tell more about what

happened.

How? When?

Where?

How? (with wings outstretched, swiftly)When? (at

sunset)Where? (over the

waves)

The birds flew with wings outstretched at sunset over

the waves.

“Move the Predicate to create a flow”

Example: At sunset, the birds flew over the waves, with wings outstretched.

The birds flew with wings outstretched at sunset over the

waves.

“Paint your Subject”Tell more about your subject!

What kind of? giant, white, singing

How many? Some, thousands, many, several

At sunset, with wings outstretched, a thousand birds flew over the waves.

“Paint your Words”Replace ordinary words with descriptive words.

Birds= sea gulls, eaglesFlew= soared, floatedWaves= thundering tide, crashing surfOver= above, on top ofAt sunset, with wings outstretched, a thousand sea gulls soared above the

thundering tide.

“Finishing Touches”Move sentence parts around to find the best

fit. Refine your wording one last time. The final sentence should be pleasing to your

ear!

At sunset, a thousand sea gulls burst through the clouds, with

wings outstretched, and soared above the thundering tide.

Masterpiece Sentences Made

EasyCreate complex sentences by asking how, when, where, which, what

kind, and how many. Use the answers to elaborate

and add detail to each sentence.

Move parts of the sentence around until it sounds right.

Refine your sentence by using descriptive words.

Independent Practice:

• Using the simple sentences you created in your “Do Now,” turn them into complex sentences by adding how? when? and where? to your predicate

• For an extra challenge, on your last two sentences add detail to your subject by adding what kind, how many, or which?