Grammar for Effect

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 12-14

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Long, flowing sentences always make a piece of writing worse.
Circle one: True False
Which sentence uses a fronted adverbial?
- Carefully, she opened the door.
- She opened the door with care.
- She opened the door carefully.
The sentence 'The last biscuit was eaten' tells us who ate it.
Circle one: True False
What is a 'list of three' (tricolon) used for in persuasive writing?
- To create rhythm and make an idea memorable.
- To slow the pace right down.
- To confuse the reader with extra detail.
Maya wrote: 'She crept down the stairs quietly.' She wants to build suspense by moving the describing word to the front. Which version does that?
- Quietly, she crept down the stairs.
- She quietly crept down the stairs.
- She crept down the stairs quietly.
A writer wants a slogan that sticks in the reader's mind. Which line uses a list of three?
- It is extremely good and very reliable.
- You should buy it today.
- Bright. Bold. Brilliant.
An advert says: 'Quicker. Cheaper. Better.' Why has the writer used a list of three here?
- To confuse the reader with too many options.
- A punchy, memorable rhythm
- To make the sentence longer and more formal.
A writer wants a memory in a story to feel distant, as if it happened long ago. Which tense should the memory be written in?
- Present tense, like 'the door creaks open'
- It makes no difference which tense
- Past tense, like 'the door creaked open'
Zara writes a tense moment: 'The floorboard creaked. A door slammed.' She wants to keep the tension high. Which ending should she choose?
- A long sentence describing the quiet house in gentle detail
- Another short, sharp sentence: 'Something moved.'
- A list of three calm, pleasant sounds
A headline writer wants readers to focus on a missing painting, not on the person who took it. Which version does that job?
- A thief took the painting in the night.
- Someone stole the painting from the gallery.
- The painting was taken from the gallery in the night.

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Grammar for Effect W1-mt_N5tiL3uIeq-s1

False · Long sentences slow the pace, which is exactly what a calm, gentle moment needs. They are a tool, not a mistake.
Carefully, she opened the door. · A fronted adverbial is a phrase placed at the start of a sentence before a comma, like 'Carefully,' here.
False · The sentence is in the passive voice, so the person who did the eating is never named.
To create rhythm and make an idea memorable. · Three items give a satisfying, balanced rhythm that readers remember.
Quietly, she crept down the stairs. · Placing 'Quietly' at the start with a comma makes a fronted adverbial, which slows the pace and builds suspense.
Bright. Bold. Brilliant. · Three short, matching words in a row make a list of three, and its punchy rhythm is easy to remember.
A punchy, memorable rhythm · Three short, matching words give the advert a rhythm that sticks with the reader.
Past tense, like 'the door creaked open' · Past tense puts distance between the reader and the events, which suits something that happened long ago.
Another short, sharp sentence: 'Something moved.' · Another short sentence keeps the quick, choppy beat going, so the tension stays high.
The painting was taken from the gallery in the night. · The passive voice starts the sentence with the painting and leaves the doer out, so attention stays on the painting.