pattern 7 an internal series of appositives or modifiers enclosed by a pair of dashes or parentheses
TRANSCRIPT
PATTERN 7
An internal series of appositives
or modifiers enclosed by a pair
of dashes or parentheses
THE FORMULA
`S __ or ( series of appositives or modifiers __
or ) V
EXAMPLES
1.He learned the necessary qualities for political life—guile,
ruthlessness, and garrulity—by carefully studying his father’s life.
2.The basic writing skills (good vocabulary, knowledge of
grammar, sense of style) can be learned by almost everyone.
3.The most-despised predators—mountain lions, timber wolves,
and grizzly bears—have been shot, trapped, and poisoned so
relentlessly for so long that they have nearly vanished from their
native lands.
REMINDERS
1.Appositives will rename, and modifiers
will describe something.
2.Dashes are used for a dramatic
interruption.
3.Parentheses set off less important
information.
PRACTICE
Directions: Add an internal series of modifiers or appositives to complete
each of the following sentences.
1.Which famous television personality—________________________ or
________________________ or ________________________ —do you think will
win this year’s Emmy Award?
2.The young gymnast— ________________________, ________________________,
and ________________________ —hoped to impress the judges.
3.Some television programs—________________________ and
________________________ and ________________________—often help us relax.
MORE PRACTICE
Directions: Provide beginnings and endings to go with the following
appositives or modifiers.
1._____________—Spanish or French or Italian—
__________________________.
2._______________________—coordination, agility, speed—
_____________________.
3.__________________—muscles, tan, good looks—
_______________________________.
PATTERN 7A: A SINGLE OR PAIR OF APPOSITIVES OR
MODIFIERS
S __ or ( appositive.modifer __
or ) V
EXAMPLES
1.The sudden burst of light—a camera flash—startled me.
2.He recognized that smell—his mother’s tamales—and it
immediately comforted him.
3.My latest desires, to go to Japan or to France, will have to
wait until I get more money.
4.Many people (especially ecologists) say that we need to do
something about global warming.
5.My grandfather’s motto—take that extra step—guided him
and now guides me.
PRACTICE
Directions: Fill in the blanks with a missing appositive or pair of appositives or other
words to complete each sentence.
1.The familiar cheer of the basketball team—__________________________________________—
began to appear on bumper stickers around the town.
2._____________________________________________ (my dog and cat)
_______________________________________
3.My favorite colors—___________________ and ____________________—always attract me to
new clothes.
4.Learning the basic skills—____________________ and ____________________—will help me
succeed in any sport.
5.____________________ (hot chocolate and marshmallows) ________________________________.