Variations in sentence openings. The English language is characterized by fixed word order, which means that the subject normally comes before the predicate. This does not mean, however, that the subject always opens the sentence; it would be too monotonous. | The forest ranger an expert in forest fire control talked to the campers about safety in the woods. - An expert in forest fire control the forest ranger talked to the campers about safety in the woods. appositive phrase Note that the part of the sentence placed first acquires a special stress. The appositive phrase in this case seems to have acquired a casual meaning rather like Being an expert in forest fire control the forest ranger . 3 A subordinate clause. When writing in complex sentences variety can be achieved by putting the subordinate clause before the main clause. One should remember however that in this case the idea expressed by the subordinate clause takes on a greater emphasis and one should therefore use this inversion with discrimination . The gardener had to plant roses when they ran out of carnations. - When they ran out of carnations the gardener had to plant roses. Exercise 1. Rewrite the following sentences beginning them with the part of the sentence mentioned in parentheses. 1. Mr. Boyd was angry and began to defend his reputation with strong argument. single-word modifier 2. The pioneer was strong and healthy and lived to be 112 years old. single-word modifiers 3. Many philosophy students read Plato the author of Socratic dialogues. appositive phrase 4. Shepherds are brilliant climbers hard-working and tireless. single-word modifiers 5. Cousteau a tireless researcher began experimenting with skindiving in 1936. appositive phrase 6. The mosaics at the University of Mexico made by outstanding artists are one of the most beautiful things to see in Mexico City. participial phrase 7. Their going was fairly easy at first. a prepositional phrase 8. The soft and crumbling snow made each step a potential disaster. single-word modifiers 9. A student may want to map ideas in his or her notebook to visualize a concept or theory. infinitive phrase 10. Eggbert ate the eggs even though he disliked them. a subordinate clause 11. Ending the solemn .
