How to Amplify a
Simple Sentence
Writing begins with a simple sentence with a subject and a predicate – the who or what that
does or is. From that simple sentence, writers build details and energy into their writing. Let’s begin
with the simple sentence Boys laugh.
We can extend or amplify our sentence by adding details such as where, when, why, and how.
The first chart below shows examples of how we might do this, and the second chart has our
example sentence amplified.
Extenders
Where
When
Why
How
above
across
beyond
beside
below
between
against
within
before
after
until
during
throughout
often
while
frequently
recently
simultaneously
so
since
because
due to
in order to
to
for the purpose of
suddenly
skillfully
gently
effectively
fiercely
poorly
As if it were a snowflake
Peaceful as a painting
Like a prowling leopard
Using a compass, Leo was able to . . .
He wandered, wondering where he . . .
Who/What
Does/Is
Simple
Sentence
Notes for
Elaboration
Boys
laugh.
Boys
chuckled
Amplified
Sentences
•
•
•
How
Where
hysterically
at the back of
the classroom
Why
because the
teacher
tripped over
the backpack.
The boys hysterically chuckled at the back of the classroom after the teacher
tripped over the backpack.
Because the teacher tripped over the backpack, the boys at the back of the
classroom chuckled hysterically.
Hysterically, the boys at the back of the classroom chuckled at the teacher
because she tripped over the backpack.
Adapted from Academic Conversations by Jeff Zwiers and Marie Crawford
We can also amplify our simple sentence by adding modifiers. We can modify either the subject
or the predicate.
Below are some examples how we could modify the subject of our simple sentence.
Single-Word Modifiers
Examples
noun appositive
adjective
noun-as-adjective
participle
the boys, troublemakers,
silly boys, loud boys, wild boys
the male students
snorting boys, blushing boys, tired boys
Word-Group Modifiers
Examples
noun appositive phrase
adjective appositive
adjective phrase
prepositional phrase
infinitive phrase
participle phrase
the boys, rascals at the back of the class,
the boys, wild and noisy,
the boys, as wild as monkeys,
the boys, in the back of the classroom,
the boys, to try and get the teacher off topic,
falling to the floor and holding their tummies,
the boys
the boys, who were always trying to get the
teacher off topic,
tears flowing, the boys
adjective clause
absolute
Below are examples of how we could modify the predicate of our simple sentence.
Single-Word Modifiers
Examples
adverb (time)
adverb (place)
adverb (manner)
laugh often, laugh frequently
laugh there, laugh everywhere
laugh hysterically, laugh wildly
Word-Group Modifiers
Examples
noun phrase (time)
prepositional phrase
laugh every class period
laugh in the back of the classroom, laugh along
side each other
laugh to impress their peers
laugh as soon as they get together
infinitive phrase
adverb clause
When a sentence becomes part of a piece of written work, we can then elaborate and amplify the
text by extending our thoughts further. By knowing the structure of the piece we are writing, we
can elaborate in a manner that is consistent to our purpose and audience. Below are some examples.
Type of Text
Talking (dialogue, direct or
indirect)
Thinking (inner speech or
thoughtshots)
Seeing (snapshots)
Doing (active verbs)
Information (background or
analytic)
Smells (literal or figurative)
Sounds (nonverbal sound
effects)
Physical reactions
(goosebumps)
Emotional reactions
(especially in conflict)
Book references
Movie references
World references
(geographical or historical)
Vocabulary
Sample Details for a
Narrative
Sample Details for
Expository
“Did you hear those boys
chuckling?” my teacher asked.
I knew it. They were laughing
at me. At least that’s what I
suspected.
I looked up and saw the three
boys standing in the corner,
doubled over in laughter.
As the boys choked with
laughter, tears ran down their
faces. The air hummed with
humor.
For the first time all year, the
boys from Mrs. Saltman’s class
laughed out loud.
Experts agree that laughter is
great for your health.
When boys laugh, they seem to
attract the admiration of their
peers.
When a boy laughs, his
eyebrows rise, and his lips
compress at first.
Boys gather to play sports, to
compete physically, and to
laugh.
I smelled the enchiladas, the
sandwiches, and the
embarrassment in the cafeteria
as the boys shrieked with
laughter.
The boys were snorting,
wheezing with laughter,
chorting and chuckling.
My heart sank as I heard their
mocking laughter.
Although it was hilarious, I felt
guilty laughing with them.
The boys laughed with
Grinchlike delight as they
threw the paper around the
room.
Suddenly they all laughed a
tiltering, timid, Munchkin kind
of laugh.
They laughed and cavorted like
competing court jesters.
Their laughter rang out,
ostracizing their classmate.
The boys laugh, experiencing
what researchers call a “social
vocalization, which bind people
together.”
Boys never grow too old to
laugh at certain smells.
Contagious, the sounds of the
boys’ laughter cause everyone
nearby to join in.
As the boys laugh, they
experience a flood of relief and
relaxation.
When boys laugh together, they
test each other and bond strong
friendships.
Sometimes the laughter of boys
can be intimidating, especially
when they are in Grinchlike
moods.
One kind of laugher is timid,
shy Munchkin-like laughter.
Like a court jesters joking for
the pleasure of a king, the boys
laughed and entertained their
coach.
Boys’ laughter is hardly ever
synthetic, but spontaneous.
Adapted from Story of My Thinking by Gretchen S. Bernabei and Dottie Hall