Exercises

Join each group of sentences together to make single sentence, in as many ways as you can.

Combine each group of two or more sentences into a single sentence. Change any words you like so long as the basic ideas remain the same; try introducing speech, personal names or any descriptive details you like. Do not be satisfied with the first sentence you think of; think of several, and choose the best. Some sentences are from NL Clay’s textbooks, others are drawn from English literature.

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Show that each of these words can be used as a noun and also as a verb.

Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..

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Make up sentences to show the subtle shades of meaning in words such as slither, soar and stampede.

The verbs below all indicate movement in some way. Use each one in a sentence, in such a way as to make its meaning clear, and distinguish it from the other words in the list.

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Use your own sentences to distinguish glance from gaze, or peer from perceive.

The verbs below all indicate some use of the eyes. Use each one in a sentence, in such a way as to make its meaning clear and distinguish it from the other words in the list. Some topics have been suggested underneath.

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Suggest words that seem opposite in meaning to the words in this list.

Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.

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Compose sentences to bring out the difference between whispering and whining.

The words below are all commonly used to refer to speaking, and especially the manner of speaking — whether speech is gentle or soft, loud or quiet, with anger or tenderness. Use each word in a sentence, in such a way as to make its meaning clear.

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