Sentence Forms for Effect

Single-Clause (Simple) Sentences

Label these types of words: nouns, noun phrases, pronouns and verbs:

Cat’s meow.

The bright lights illuminated the stage.
He often sings while cooking.

Minor Sentences

What is the effect of the minor sentences in these examples?

My neighbour never apologised. Not once.
We need to go. Now.
The game is finally over. I won.

Multi-Clause (Compound) Sentences

Separate these examples into two sentences each.

What types of words join the two sentences?

Birds eat berries and squirrels eat nuts.
Hedgehogs are wild animals but many come into gardens.
I watch the birds everyday, yet I haven’t seen the woodpecker again.

Multi-Clause (Complex) Sentences

Separate these examples into two sentences each. (You might need to make a lot of changes).

How are the parts of these sentences joined?

The swimmer, despite being very experienced, was shocked by the cold water.
My brother brought food to share, which is more than could be said of my sister.

Sentence Types

Give definitions and examples for these sentence types:

Statement
Question
Imperative
Exclamation

The Effect of Varying Sentence Lengths

Revisit the extract about hunters in the section about Rhetorical Language.

Find examples of these types of sentences and explain their effect:

Single-clause sentences
Multi-clause sentences
Long multi-clause sentences

Extract 1: 'The hunter who killed Cecil the lion doesn't deserve our empathy' by Rose George

This extract is from an article in the Guardian and shows the writer's views on a trophy hunter killing a famous lion in Zimbabwe.

I feel no calmness about big-game hunters. I am not persuaded by their justifications, which can be easily punctured with buckshot. Trophy hunting contributes to conservation, they say: when the Dallas Safari Club auctioned the right to kill an endangered Namibian black rhino, it said the 350,000-dollar winning bounty – they called it a ‘bid’ – went towards conservation efforts in Namibia. There are only 5,000 black rhinos left.

Writing About Sentence Forms

Only comment on sentence forms if they have been used to create a particular effect. But, do use different sentence forms in your writing.

What works well in this sample answer? Consider the following:

Opening and closing statements
Main point
Discourse markers (connective words)

Sample Answer:

In this extract, the writer carefully varies her sentence length and structure to strengthen her viewpoint. She opens with a short, direct sentence that leaves no doubt about her feelings toward big-game hunters. She then follows it with a longer, more complex sentence that highlights the excuses hunters use to defend their actions. This builds into an even more extended sentence presenting the hunters’ claim that trophy fees support conservation.

After this rise in length and complexity, the writer cuts sharply back to a brief, simple statement: ‘There are only 5,000 black rhinos left.’ The sudden return to a short sentence delivers a powerful impact, exposing how weak the earlier justifications are when compared with the stark reality of an endangered species.

Sentence Forms in Fiction: Pace & Mood

In this short extract look for:

Simple sentence
The effect of adverbs
Multi-clause sentences
Single-clause sentences

Sample Writing:

Hesitantly, she ventured into the woods. The air was cool and dim, and faint whispers seemed to follow her. Leaves rustled, and every sound made her tense. A twig snapped under her foot, and she flinched. City life had never prepared her for this.

Sentence Forms in Fiction: Variation

In this short extract look for:

Minor sentences
Complex sentences
Short sentences

Sample Writing:

She moved with growing confidence along a well-worn path, a thrill of adventure stirring inside her. Then she stopped abruptly. What was that sound? Every muscle tensed as she listened carefully. Nothing—just the soft murmur of wind through the trees.

Sentence Forms in Non-Fiction: Variation

In this sample text look for:

How short statements are used
The effect of complex sentences
Questions
Exclamation
Rhetorical questions
Minor sentences
Multi-clause, complex sentences

Sample text:

The truth is clear: we need to use cars far less. Much less.

Consider the evidence. They emit planet-warming greenhouse gases, trigger respiratory illnesses, and cause over 1,500 deaths on the roads each year.

Some measures have been tried—inner-city congestion charges, low-emission zones, reduced speed limits—but they are not enough. Why? Because our reliance on cars runs too deep.

Let’s be honest. Cars are killing us, yet we continue to make them, drive them, and build more roads. Are we insane? In a way, yes. We cling to the freedom of our private bubbles, speeding along the streets, even though public transport is improving. Will that ever change? Probably not.

Review

Make sure you can define and give examples of these key terms:

Coordinating conjunction
Exclamation
Imperative
Minor sentence
Multi-clause sentence
Single-clause sentence
Statement
Subordinating conjunction

Questions/Tasks

Provide a clear definition for the grammatical term 'clause.'
Is the following statement accurate: A sentence composed of multiple clauses is strictly limited to only two clauses? Justify your true or false answer.
Does a single-clause sentence, often called a simple sentence, always have to be very short in length? Explain your reasoning.
Examine the phrase in italics: 'You mean everything to me. Everything?' What is the specific type of sentence structure used here, and what emotional or structural impact does it create?
Combine the following three separate sentences into a single multi-clause sentence, making any necessary modifications to the wording: Abshir comes from Somalia. It is in Africa. Many African countries experience drought.
In analytical writing about language, is simply naming the sentence structures enough to earn high marks? True or false?
Define a 'statement' sentence, and give a brief example of one.
Explain what an imperative sentence is, and name the type of writing (or text genre) in which they are most commonly found.
Consider the sentence: 'Don't tell me you forgot the marmalade!' Identify the sentence type, and describe the specific effect or emotion it is used to convey.

Answers

A clause is a fundamental unit of grammar, consisting of a subject (which can be a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun) and a corresponding verb.
False. A multi-clause sentence can incorporate more than two clauses joined together.
False. For instance, a sentence like: The young boy on the drums gave an incredible performance last night is a single-clause sentence but is quite long.
The structure is a minor sentence (or sentence fragment). Its effect is to provide immediate emphasis, focus the reader's attention, and intensify the preceding statement.
Answers can vary in structure. A possible multi-clause version is: Abshir comes from Somalia, which is a country in Africa where many regions are currently experiencing drought.
False. To achieve higher grades, you must not only identify sentence structures but also explain the significant reason the writer chose that structure and the effect it is intended to create for the reader.
A statement (or declarative sentence) is a sentence used to convey information or state a fact, such as: Birds possess wings.
Imperative sentences are those that issue commands, orders, or instructions. They are often used in texts that aim to persuade, advise, or instruct the reader (e.g., speeches, instructions manuals, or advisory articles).
This is an exclamatory sentence. It functions to express a strong, sudden emotion such as disbelief, shock, anger, or dismay.

Previous Topics: Questions

How is a writer's attitude or 'voice' defined?
Explain the term 'colloquial language.'

Answers

It refers to the author's specific thoughts, perspective, and feelings toward the subject matter they are writing about.
Colloquial language is informal language used in everyday speech, designed to make the text sound natural, familiar, or like a casual conversation.

Reading Task:

Instructions: Read the following short extract carefully.

The old lighthouse keeper was not easily frightened. The sea was his lifelong companion, a predictable beast of habit. Yet, the fog that morning was different. It didn't roll in; it attacked. A thick, choking blanket, it swallowed the horizon whole. No sound escaped it. Silence. Suddenly, a low, guttural moan rose from the churning water below, a sound he had never heard before. What was that? He gripped the cold metal railing, his knuckles white. He needed to radio the shore immediately, but his hand was shaking too hard to press the button.

Question

How does the writer use language, specifically sentence forms and sentence types, to build tension and convey the lighthouse keeper's changing attitude?

(This question assesses your ability to identify and analyse sentence structures and types and explain the effect they create.)

Focus on:

Simple sentences
Minor sentences
Complex sentences
Sentence types (e.g., statement, question, imperative, question)
The writer’s attitude
The effect on the reader

Answers

[8 marks]-----Suggested Points for Analysis (Based on Document Topics):

Sentence Forms (Structure):

Single-clause/Simple sentence (e.g., "The sea was his lifelong companion," or "No sound escaped it.")—used for clear, direct statements or to establish facts/settings calmly.
Minor sentence (e.g., "Silence.")—used for dramatic impact, breaking the flow, and intensifying the atmosphere.
Multi-clause/Complex sentence (e.g., "He needed to radio the shore immediately, but his hand was shaking too hard to press the button.")—used to convey detailed action, internal conflict, or a sense of mounting urgency.

Sentence Types:

Statement/Declarative sentences (e.g., "The old lighthouse keeper was not easily frightened.")—used to set the initial tone of calm competence.
Question/Interrogative sentence (e.g., "What was that?")—used to suddenly introduce doubt and panic, drawing the reader into the keeper's internal fear.

Writer's Attitude/Effect:

The shift from longer, measured sentences about the keeper's competence to shorter, fractured sentences or a minor sentence shows a breakdown of his calm.
The change in sentence structure directly mirrors the increase in tension and the keeper's growing fear/dismay.

Writing Task

Instructions: Choose ONE of the two writing prompts below. Write a short piece (approximately 150-200 words) where you deliberately use a variety of sentence forms (single-clause, multi-clause, minor sentences) and sentence lengths (short and long) to achieve the required effect.

Aim to use a minor sentence and a long, multi-clause sentence at a key point to create an impact.

Choose ONE of the following prompts:

Narrative Writing (To Create Suspense/Pace):
Write the opening to a short story about a character who is home alone and hears an unexpected noise. Your writing should aim to build a sense of suspense and fear in the reader.

Focus: Use short, simple sentences and minor sentences to speed up the pace and create sudden shocks. Use a longer, complex sentence to describe the setting or the character's internal thoughts.

Persuasive Writing (To Argue for Change):
Write an opinion piece for a local community blog or newspaper, arguing that young people need better public spaces (like community centres, parks, or youth hubs). Your writing should aim to persuade local adults and officials to support this idea.

Focus: Use a short, direct sentence at the start to state your main case (Statement/Declarative). Use a long, multi-clause sentence to explain the reasons and benefits of these spaces in detail. Use a rhetorical question or imperative sentence to make the audience feel directly involved in the issue.