Question

(1) My dog Pudgy is a pug. (2) Key to the pug’s distinctive look are its short black muzzle and tightly curled tail. (3) Pugs usually weigh between 14 and 18 pounds and stand about 10 to 11 inches tall. (4) A pug has short fur that can come in different colors. (5) My pug has a fawn, or kind of beige-colored, coat; however, pugs may also be fawn silver, fawn apricot, or black. (6) Pugs are friendly, outgoing, playful little dogs. (7) Pugs are therefore good companion dogs.

Which is the most effective way to vary the sentence patterns in the passage?


Combine sentences 5 and 6 to create a long sentence.


Invert sentence 2 so that the verb comes before the subject.


Divide sentence 4 into two shorter sentences.


Begin sentences with different parts of speech.

Answer 1

Begin sentences with different parts of speech.

Reason: Several sentences now begin the same way (many start with "Pugs"), which makes the rhythm monotonous. Varying sentence openings (an adverb, a prepositional phrase, a participial phrase, a subordinating clause, etc.) gives the paragraph a livelier, more natural flow. Inverting sentence 2 would sound awkward, combining 5 and 6 would create an overly long sentence, and splitting sentence 4 doesn’t fix the repeated openings.

Quick examples:
- With its short black muzzle and tightly curled tail, the pug’s look is unmistakable.
- Weighing only 14 to 18 pounds, pugs are small but sturdy.
- Because they’re friendly and playful, pugs make excellent companion dogs.