Clauses and Phrases

Relative Clause (who/which)

Start with a simple main clause...

add a clause to describe the subject or an object.

Don't forget the commas to separate the clause.

e.g. The purple chair, slightly higher than the others, circulated around the room.

e.g. Fatima, as kind as she was, recieved a round of applause from the class.

Adverbial Phrase (Beyond adverbs)

Start with a simple main clause...

add a phrase that describes how, when or where the verb happened, happens or is happening.

Remember, if the adv. phr. is before the main clause you need a comma.

e.g. Yunus read his book in the book corner.

e.g. Benji ran out to lunch as soon as the lesson ended.

e.g. Under the light of the moon, the bombers came.

Connective Clauses

Start with a simple main clause...

add a clause using a connective like because.

e.g. Bert went to lunch because he was hungry.

Non-finite Clause (-ing starter)

Start with a simple main clause...

add a clause with an -ing starter.

Don't forget the comma if it's at the beginning or the end.

e.g. Dashing across the hall, Max approached his classroom.

Conditional Statements (If, unless, until)

Start with a simple main clause...

add a condition to that happening.

Don't forget the comma if it's at the beginning.

e.g. You can go out to play if you do your homework.

e.g. Unless you do your homework, you cannot go out to play.

Descriptive Devices

3 Noun List

Use a list of 3 nouns for added effect. After all, 3 is a magic number.

Don't forget to separate them with commas and connectives.

e.g. Leah reached into her pocket and pulled out a tattered map, her binoculars and a piece of string.

Expanded Noun Phrase (beyond adjectives)

Start with a simple main clause...

add a group of words which better describe or add interest to the noun.

Remember to separate terms with a comma.

e.g. The sandy-haired, well dressed girl pushed her way through the crowd.

Action Devices

3 pack action

Start with a simple main clause.

Add another complete clause where the subject does something else, using a different verb.

Add a third complete clause where the subject does something else, using a different verb.

Remember to separate terms with commas and connectives.

e.g. Ryan ran across the playground, leapt over the bench and kicked the ball over the fence.

Preposition Journey

Start with a simple main clause involving movement.

Add another clause where the subject moves somewhere else using a different preposition.

Add a third clause where the subject moves somewhere else using another different preposition.

Remember to separate terms with commas and connectives.

e.g. The tall boy hurried across the garden, round the daffodils and through the front gate.

Poetic Devices

Rhyme

Use a repeated sound at the end of words to create rhyming within a phrase. A second sound can be repeated.

e.g. Quick and slick was the fox, as he raced away into the bright night.

Simile

Start with a simple main clause...

describe the subject or object as or like something else.

e.g. Megan danced as gracefully as a swan.

e.g. Megan danced like a graceful swan.

Metaphors

Start with a simple main clause...

describe the subject or object as if it is something else.

You can embed them as relative clauses in which case, you mustn't forget the commas.

The plane dived, a silent falcon hunting it's prey.

Dawn broke. A giant paint-brush swept red, orange and yellow across the clear sky.

Alliteration

Use a repeated sound at the start of words to create alliteration. A second sound can be repeated.

e.g. Certain of his success, Sammy screamed with delight.

e.g. The car cautiously came to a halt alongside the huge, haunted house.

Personification

Give an object the qualities of a person.

e.g. The trees waved in the gentle breeze.

e.g. The car roared down the road.