Нераспространенные и распространенные предложения (Non-Extended and Extended Sentences)

 

Простые предложения бывают нераспространенные и распространенные.

Нераспространенные простые предложения состоят только из главных членов предложения — подлежащего и сказуемого:

The car (подлежащее) stopped (сказуемое). Машина остановилась.

В состав распространенного простого предложения кроме главных членов входят и второстепенные — определение, дополнение и обстоятельство. Второстепенные члены предложения поясняют главные:

The blue car stopped at the gate.

Синяя машина остановилась у ворот.

В этом предложении второстепенный член предложения blue (определение) поясняет подлежащее — the car, а второстепенный член at the gate (обстоятельство места) — сказуемое stopped.

The manager of the company has received a letter.

Управляющий компании получил письмо.

Второстепенный член of the company (определение) поясняет подлежащее the manager; второстепенный член предложения a letter (дополнение) поясняет сказуемое has received.

Подлежащее с относящимися к нему второстепенными членами предложения составляет группу подлежащего (распространенное подлежащее). Сказуемое с относящимися к нему второстепенными членами предложения составляет группу сказуемого (распространенное сказуемое):

Группа подлежащего (Subject Group) The blue car The manager of the company

Группа сказуемого (Predicate Group) stopped at the gate. has received a letter.

Второстепенные члены предложения, в свою очередь, могут поясняться другими второстепенными, составляя с ними распространенные члены предложения:

The manager has received an important message.

Управляющий получил важное сообщение.

В этом предложении второстепенный член предложения a message (дополнение) поясняется другим второстепенным членом important (определение), образуя с ним распространенное дополнение — an important message.

The question was discussed at the meeting of the council.

Вопрос был обсужден на заседании совета.

Второстепенный член at the meeting (обстоятельство места) поясняется другим второстепенным членом of the council (определение), образуя с ним распространенное обстоятельство места at the meeting of the council.

By 

Richard Nordquist

Sentence expanding is the process of adding one or more words, phrases, or clauses to the main clause (or independent clause) to do just that: expand your sentences.

Sentence-expanding exercises are often used in conjunction with sentence-combining and sentence-imitation exercises: Together, these activities may serve as a supplement or an alternative to more traditional methods of grammar and writing instruction.

The primary purpose of using sentence-expanding exercises in composition is to enrich a student's thinking and attention to detail in storytelling while heightening his or her awareness of the variety of available sentence structures. All together, it gives students the ability to paint a more vivid picture and express a more complex thought.

Sentence-Expanding Possibilities

The frameworks for sentence expanding are as rich and varied as are the grammatical structures offered to us by the English language:

Expanding Sentences With Adjectives and Adverbs

And Advice on How to Use Descriptors in Your Writing

Descriptive words in writing add details to a scene or action by making the imagery in it more precise for the reader to visualize. For example, sentences with a person waiting patiently or nervously for something to happen probably lead to very different paragraphs or stories. Maybe it's significant in a mystery novel that something happens by a stone wall rather than a clapboard wall. 

Descriptors can also add layers of meaning to a scene, or set up metaphors, with just one word. A character with Victorian sensibilities gives the reader a very different feeling than one with punk attitudes.

Adjective and Adverb Exercises

Instructions: Add to each sentence below by filling in the blanks with any adjectives and adverbs that you think are appropriate and correct.

Example:
Original: The _____ cat rested _____ on the windowsill.
Expanded: The old black cat rested fitfully on the windowsill.

Of course, there's no single set of correct answers to this exercise. Simply rely on your imagination to expand the original sentences, and then compare your new sentences with those created by your classmates.

For additional practice, go through the exercise sentences multiple times. See how many different ways you can make them read and notice how the different adjectives and adverbs change the mood of the scene or the gravity of the situation (or increase the hilarity of the image if the adjectives and adverbs are a little bit off-kilter). For example, it's a very different feel in No. 14 if an imposing teacher spoke gruffly to the boys in the hallway or whether it was a kindergarten teacher speaking comfortingly to the boys in the hallway. 

1. One _____ afternoon in July, I walked with my cousin to the petting zoo.
2. Under the rickety old bridge lived a(n) _____ witch.
3. Gertrude waited _____ for the Lorax to arrive.
4. The mouse in our kitchen was _____ small.
5. My sister heard a(n) _____ noise coming out of the closet in her bedroom.
6. The children laughed _____ when they saw what their uncle had brought them.
7. Dylan received a(n) _____ smartphone for his birthday.
8. We heard _____ music playing in the _____ apartment next door.
9. The _____ puppy fell off the bed, but _____ he wasn't hurt.
10. A(n) _____ man walked _____ up and down the room.
11. The twins were playing _____ in their _____ playpen.
12. The _____ wizard watched _____ as Rico became more and more upset.
13. The _____ playground was filled with _____ leaves.
14. A(n) _____ teacher spoke _____ to the boys in the hallway.
15. The bells of the _____ church rang _____ in the clear winter air. 

Avoid Overuse

One caveat: When you're writing, be careful not to overstuff your sentences with adjectives and adverbs, or else the sentences (and the reader) will get bogged down in the detail. Placing the perfect adjective or adverb in the best possible spot will be more memorable to the reader and draw more attention to the detail than having an overabundance of description. If your sentences are hitting overload with descriptors, change your verbs. Instead of ​walking stealthily, maybe the person slunk around the corner. All in all, never be afraid of revision, which can bring out the best in your writing.

Expanding Sentences With Prepositional Phrases

A Sentence-Expanding Exercise

This sentence-expanding exercise will give you practice in applying the principles and guidelines after understanding what the parts of a preposition are.

Exercise

Expand each sentence below by adding one or more prepositional phrases that answer the question(s) in parenthesis.

Example

The cat jumped and pounced.
(What did the cat jump off of? What did the cat pounce on?)

The cat jumped off the stove and pounced on the gerbil.

There are countless ways to expand each sentence. You will find sample answers below.

1. The students laughed.(What did the students laugh at?)
2. The man tripped.(What did the man trip over?)
3. Visitors arrived yesterday.(Where were the visitors from?)
4. The candles flickered.(Where were the candles?)
5. Gus hid the candy bar.(Where did Gus hide the candy bar?)
6. Last night I watched a YouTube video.(What was the video about?)
7. Sid sat.(Where did he sit? With whom did he sit?)
8. The teacher spoke.(Who did the teacher speak to? What did she speak about?)
9. The spaceship landed.(Where was the spaceship from? Where did it land?)
10. Jenny stood, raised her Super Soaker water gun, and aimed it.(Where did she stand? What did she aim at?)

Answers

Here are sample answers to the sentence-expanding exercise. Keep in mind that countless versions of each sentence are possible.

1. The students laughed at the monkey on a scooter.
2. The man tripped over his own feet.
3. Visitors from the Bizarro world arrived yesterday.
4. The candles on the handles of my bicycle flickered.
5. Gus hid the candy bar in a dirty sock.
6. Last night I watched a YouTube video about green kangaroos.
7. Sid sat in a tub of Jello with his cat.
8. The teacher spoke to the principal about a pay raise.
9. The spaceship from Pluto landed in the desert.
10. Jenny stood on the roof of the garage, raised her Super Soaker water gun, and aimed it at her little brother below.

If you had any problems completing this exercise, review the guidelines and examples for arranging prepositional phrases.

Expanding Sentences With Appositives

As we've seen in What Is an Appositive?, an appositive is a word or group of words that concisely identifies or renames another word in a sentence. The exercise on this page offers practice in identifying appositives.

Exercise

Some of the sentences below contain adjective clauses; others contain appositives. Identify the adjective clause or appositive in each sentence; then compare your responses with the answers below. (If you run into problems, review Building Sentences with Appositives.)

1. John Reed, an American journalist, helped found the Communist Labor Party in America.
2. My sister, who is a supervisor at Munchies, drives a company car.
3. I took a cookie from Gretel, who is the woodcutter's daughter.
4. I took a cookie from Gretel, the woodcutter's daughter.
5. Og, the King of Bashan, was saved from the flood by climbing onto the roof of the ark.
6. I once saw Margot Fonteyn, the famous ballerina.
7. Elkie Fern, who is a professional botanist, led the kids on a nature hike.
8. Elsa, a good country woman, has a daughter named Ulga.
9. Paul Revere, who was a silversmith and a soldier, is famous for his "midnight ride."
10. I read a biography of Disraeli, the 19th-century statesman, and novelist.

Answers to the exercise:

1. appositive: an American journalist
2. adjective clause: who is a supervisor at Munchies
3. adjective clause: who is the woodcutter's daughter
4. appositive: the woodcutter's daughter
5. appositive: the King of Bashan
6. appositive: the famous ballerina
7. adjective clause: who is a professional botanist
8. appositive: a good country woman
9. adjective clause: who was a silversmith and a soldier
10. appositive: the 19th-century statesman and novelist

Expanding Sentences With Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause functions almost exactly like an adjective in that it modifies a noun. Adjectival clauses are dependent clauses that usually begin with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom or whose) or a relative adverb (where, when, and why). Adjectives and adjectival clauses can specify size, shape, color, purpose, and more about their nouns.

There are nonrestrictive and restrictive adjectival clauses and these work a little differently. Here's a little bit about how to distinguish between the two types. 

Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause set off from the main clause by commas (one comma if at the beginning or end of a sentence) is said to be nonrestrictive. Here's an example:

Old Professor Legree, who dresses like a teenager, is going through his second childhood.

This "who" clause is nonrestrictive because the information it contains doesn't restrict or limit the noun it modifies, old Professor Legree. Instead, the clause provides added but not essential information, which is signaled by commas. A nonrestrictive adjective clause can be removed without affecting a sentence.

Restrictive Adjective Clauses

A restrictive adjective clause, on the other hand, is essential to a sentence and should not be set off by commas.

An older person who dresses like a teenager is often an object of ridicule.

Here, the adjective clause restricts or limits the meaning of the noun it modifies (an older person). It is not set off by commas because it is necessary to the meaning of the sentence. If removed, the sentence (An older person is often an object of ridicule) would take on an entirely different meaning.

To review, an adjective clause that can be omitted from a sentence without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence should be set off by commas and is nonrestrictive. An adjective clause that cannot be omitted from a sentence without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence should not be set off by commas and is restrictive.

Practice Identifying Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

For each sentence below, decide if the adjective clause (in italics) is restrictive or nonrestrictive. When you're done, check your answers at the bottom of the page.

1. Students who have young children are invited to use the free daycare center.
2. I left my son at the campus daycare center, which is free to all full-time students.
3. John Wayne, who appeared in over 200 movies, was the biggest box-office attraction of his time.
4. I refuse to live in any house that Jack built.
5. Merdine, who was born in a boxcar somewhere in Arkansas, grows homesick every time she hears the wail of a train whistle.
6. My new running shoes, which cost more than a hundred dollars, fell apart during the marathon.
7. I lent some money to Earl, whose house was destroyed in the flood.
8. The thing that impresses me the most about America is the way parents obey their children.
9. A physician who smokes and overeats has no right to criticize the personal habits of his patients.
10. The beer that made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me.

Answers

1. Restrictive
2. Nonrestrictive
3. Nonrestrictive
4. Restrictive
5. Nonrestrictive
6. Nonrestrictive
7. Nonrestrictive
8. Restrictive
9. Restrictive
10. Restrictive

Expanding Sentences With Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause (also known as an adverbial clause) is a dependent clause used as an adverb within a sentence. These types of clauses can modify the whole sentence, as well as verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, and may show aspects such as time, reason, concession, or condition. These clauses often start with words such as (while, if, because, when, although, unless, since, so that, whereas, even if, in case, as long as) and other words.

In contrast, an adjectival clause will modify a noun and start with a relative pronoun (that, who, whose, whom, or which) or a subordinate conjunction (when and where).

Before doing these exercises, you may find it helpful to review the study sheet "Building Sentences With Adverb Clauses."

Practice Identifying Adverb Clauses

Each of these proverbial sayings contains an adverb clause. Identify the adverb clause in each sentence, and then compare your answers with those below.

1. While the cat's away, the mice will play.
2. A lie travels around the world while truth is putting her boots on.
3. If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
4. Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events.
5. Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.
6. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince.
7. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
8. Life is what happens when you are making other plans.
9. As soon as you forbid something, you make it extraordinarily appealing.
10. Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else.
11. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
12. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
13. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
14. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
15. Don't cross the bridge till you come to it.

Answer Key

In the following sentences, the adverb clauses are in bold print. Examine what word or phrase they're modifying and what aspect they show (time, reason, concession, or condition). For example, in sentence 1, the clause refers to the time that the mice will play.

1. While the cat's away, the mice will play.
2. A lie travels around the world while truth is putting her boots on.
3. If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
4. Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events.
5. Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.
6. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you find a handsome prince.
7. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
8. Life is what happens when you are making other plans.
9. As soon as you forbid something, you make it extraordinarily appealing.
10. Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else.
11. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
12. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
13. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
14. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
15. Don't cross the bridge till you come to it.

Expanding Sentences With Absolute Phrases

An absolute phrase is a group of words that modifies an independent clause as a whole. Absolute phrases are useful constructions for adding details to an entire sentence—details that often describe one aspect of someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the sentence. Sample questions offer practice revising sentences with absolute phrases

Practice Questions

Rewrite each sentence or set of sentences below according to the guidelines that precede each practice question. When you're done, compare your revised sentences with the answers that follow. Keep in mind that more than one correct response is possible.

1) Combine the two sentences below: Turn the second sentence into an absolute phrase and place it in front of the first sentence.

The storks circled above us. Their slender bodies were sleek and black against the orange sky.

2) Combine the two sentences below: Turn the second sentence into an absolute phrase and place it after the first sentence.

On the tops of the hills, the grass stands at its tallest and greenest. Its new seed plumes rise through a dead crop of last year's withered spears.

3) Create two absolute phrases by eliminating the words in bold.

Odysseus comes to shore, and the skin is torn from his hands, and the sea water is gushing from his mouth and nostrils.

4) Combine the three sentences below: Turn the second and third sentences into absolute phrases, and position them at the start of the sentence to establish a clear cause-effect relationship.

Norton vowed never to marry again. His first marriage ended in divorce. His second marriage ended in despair.

5) Omit the word "when" and turn the main clause—in bold—into an absolute phrase.

When the double giant Ferris wheel circles, the swaying seats are more frightening than a jet plane flying through a monsoon.

6) Combine the following four sentences into a single sentence with a present participial phrase and two absolute phrases.

All afternoon the caravan passed by. The caravan shimmered in the winter light. Its numberless facets were gleaming. The hundreds of wagon wheels were turning in the dust in slow and endless motion.

7) Combine the following five sentences into a single sentence with a present participial phrase and three absolute phrases.

Six boys came over the hill. The boys were running hard. Their heads were down. Their forearms were working. Their breaths were whistling.

8) Begin your new sentence with "The buildings sit empty," and turn the rest of the sentence into an absolute phrase.

Jagged pieces of glass stick out of the frames of the hundreds of broken windows in the buildings that sit empty.

9) Combine these sentences by replacing the period with a comma and eliminating the word in bold.

Proud of my freedom and bumhood, I stood in the doorway of the boxcar, rocking with the motion of the train. My ears were full of the rushing wind and the clattering wheels.

10) Combine these three sentences by turning the first sentence into an absolute phrase and the third into a subordinate clause beginning with "where."

His hair was wet from the showers. He walked in the icy air to Luke's Luncheonette. There he ate three hamburgers in a booth with three juniors.

Answers

Here are the sentences that served as models for the exercises above. Keep in mind that more than one correct response is possible.

1. Their slender bodies sleek and black against the orange sky, the storks circled above us.
2. On the tops of the hills, the grass stands at its tallest and greenest, its new seed plumes rising through a dead crop of last year's withered spears.
3. Odysseus comes to shore, the skin torn from his hands, the sea water gushing from his mouth and nostrils.
4. His first marriage having ended in divorce and his second in despair, Norton vowed never to marry again.
5. The double giant Ferris wheel circles, the swaying seats more frightening than a jet plane flying through a monsoon.
6. All afternoon the caravan passed by, shimmering in the winter light, its numberless facets gleaming and the hundreds of wagon wheels turning in the dust in slow and endless motion.
7. Six boys came over the hill, running hard, their heads down, their forearms working, their breaths whistling.
8. The buildings sit empty, jagged pieces of glass sticking out of the frames of the hundreds of broken windows.
9. Proud of my freedom and bumhood, I stood in the doorway of the boxcar, rocking with the motion of the train, my ears full of the rushing wind and the clattering wheels.
10. His hair wet from the showers, he walked in the icy air to Luke's Luncheonette, where he ate three hamburgers in a booth with three juniors.

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