Appreciating Descriptive Prose

Descriptive Prose  is the fiction-writing mode for transmitting a mental image of the particulars of a story. Together with dialogue, narration, exposition, and summarization, description is one of the most widely recognized of the fiction-writing modes.

Description is more than the amassing of details, it is bringing a scene to life by carefully choosing and arranging words and phrases to produce the desired effect.We can said that it same with Dscriptive Text,to dscribe people,scenes,or objects for their own.But,In appreciating Descriptive Prose,We feel like in the scene of story/prose.

As a feature, description is a style of writing which can be useful for other variety of purposes as:

• To engage a reader’s attention 
• To create characters 
• To set a mood or create an atmosphere 
• To being writing to life

Both, descriptive text and Descriptive prose has dominant language features as follows:

1. Using Simple Present Tense 
2. Using action verbs
3. Using passive voice
4. Using noun phrase
5. Using adverbial phrase
6. Using of Metaphors,Simile.
7. Using general and abstract noun
8. Using conjunction of time and cause-effect.
9. Using languange style that give visual mind effect to the readers

There are many Using Of descriptive form, :

~As a Rhetorical Mode~

The purpose of description is to re-create or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader may picture that which is being described. Descriptive writing may be found in the other rhetorical modes. Example: In Poetry or Journal

~As a fiction writing Mode~

Fiction is a form of narrative, one of the four rhetorical modes of discourse. Fiction-writing also has distinct forms of expression, or modes, each with its own purposes and conventions. Agent and author Evan Marshall (agent) identifies five fiction-writing modes: action, summary, dialogue, feelings/thoughts, and background (Marshall 1988, pp. 143–165). Author and writing-instructor Jessica Page Morrell lists six delivery modes for fiction-writing: action, exposition, description, dialogue, summary, and transition (Morrell 2006, p. 127). Author Peter Selgin refers to methods, including action, dialogue, thoughts, summary, scene, and description (Selgin 2007, p. 38). Currently, there is no consensus within the writing community regarding the number and composition of fiction-writing modes and their uses.

Description is the fiction-writing mode for transmitting a mental image of the particulars of a story. Together with dialogue, narration, exposition, and summarization, description is one of the most widely recognized of the fiction-writing modes. As stated in Writing from A to Z, edited by Kirk Polking, description is more than the amassing of details; it is bringing something to life by carefully choosing and arranging words and phrases to produce the desired effect. (Polking, p. 106) The most appropriate and effective techniques for presenting description are a matter of ongoing discussion among writers and writing coaches.

~As A Purple Prose~

Purple prose is a term of literary criticism used to describe passages, or sometimes entire literary works, written in prose so overly extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw attention to itself. Purple prose is sensually evocative beyond the requirements of its context. It also refers to writing that employs certain rhetorical effects such as exaggerated sentiment or pathos in an attempt to manipulate a reader's response.

Example Of Descriptive Prose :

The Kingdom of Aria had been founded centuries ago by a Queen who came from across the sea. None of her people remembered her name anymore, but referred to her only as the Founder. Her picture looked out from the top of every mantelpiece in the kingdom, and Arians would sometimes gaze at her fondly, the way that one might gaze at a beloved pet. She had green eyes—green as the fields of Aria, it was said; golden hair—golden as the wine that sustained the kingdom, it was said—and pale skin—pale as the foam of the Dragonsdawn Sea that swept the eastern coast of the kingdom with unceasing motion. There was never a moment that passed in the kingdom that was not under her watchful gaze, that was not bound to the rhythm of her memories, that was not a part of the long history she had started…

If you wanna write A Descriptive Prose,Several thing that must be considered In create Descriptive Prose :

•  Adjectives are powerful, and don’t go out of style. Use them sparingly. 
• Keep the descriptive passages in the same viewpoint as the rest of the scene. 
• Don’t dump descriptive passages at the very beginning. 
• Don’t let description actively take the place of the story. 
• In some scenes, verbs and nouns are more powerful descriptors than adjectives and adverbs.

Source:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Description#Description_as_a_fiction-writing_mode
• http://limyaael.livejournal.com/293346.html
• http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/25379/1/Unit1.pdf
• Oktarina,Yeni.2010.Handout Prose Appreciation.Baturaja : University Of Baturaja

Present Progressive Tense

What is Present Progressive Tense /present Continous tense?

The Present Continuous  is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. Another use of the tense is to talk about what we are planning to do

The Fomula :

(+) S +  To Be (am,is,are) + V₁+ing + O + Time Signal

(-) S + To Be (am,is,are ) + not + V₁ +O+Time Signal

(?)To Be(Am,is,are)    + S  +V₁ + O  +  Time Signal ?

We can Use Present Proggresive Tense For :

1. talk about something which is happening at the time of speaking (now, at the moment).
2. talk about something which is happening at present, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking.
3. We can use the Present Continuous when we talk about temporary actions taking place only for a period of time (today, this week, this semester, this year)
4. To express current trends
5. Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to describe a planned action in the near future
6. We can use the Present Continuous when we talk about repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (always, constantly)

Look at these examples with the main verb Play:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb+Ing	Object	Time signal
+	I, you, we, they	am are are		playing	football	now
	He,she, it	is		playing	football	right now
-	I, you, we, they	am are are	not	playing	football	at the momment
	He, she, it	is	not	playing	football	today
?	am are are	I, you, we, they		playing	football	at 12:30
	is	he, she, it		playing	football	this week

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary:

	subject	main verb
+	I	am		French.
	You, we, they	are		French.
	He, she, it	is		French.
-	I	am	not	old.
	You, we, they	are	not	old.
	He, she, it	is	not	old.
?	Am	I		late?
	Are	you, we, they		late?
	Is	he, she, it		late?

John drives a taxi.
past	present	future
I am reading Present Continous Tense Topic at The Momment

Look at these examples:

• They are spending this week in Paris.
• The telephone is ringing!
• They are doing their homework.
• We are studying English and Spanish.
• He is always complaining from his colleagues.
• On-line shopping is growing rapidly nowdays.
• I'm leaving for Padang tomorrow morning.

>Simple Present Tense Quiz

1	Are You  eatingeatsbe eaten My chocolate milk?	Click for answereating
2	Randy playingcatchingsharinganything that interesting now	Click for answersharing
3	IsAreAm They playing card today?	Click for answerAre
4	My father  isaream talking with our  neighbour.	Click for answeris
5	Sorry, Lisa amisbe not here at the moment.	Click for answeris
6	IsAreAmhe coming tonight?	Click for answeris
7	Robert isdoesare not go to my school.	Click for answerdoes
8	My parents liveare living liveIn  apartment.	Click for answerare living
9	I'm  diddoingdo are my homework Now	Click for answerdoing
10	She is singsingingsang beatifully	Click for answersinging

The Simple Future Tense

I will sing

The simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the modal auxiliary will.

How do we make the Simple Future Tense?

The structure of the simple future tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	main verb
		invariable		base
		will		V1

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the simple future tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	will		open	the door.
+	You	will		finish	before me.
-	She	will	not	be	at school tomorrow.
-	We	will	not	leave	yet.
?	Will	you		arrive	on time?
?	Will	they		want	dinner?

When we use the simple future tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb:

I will	I'll
you will	you'll
he will she will it will	he'll she'll it'll
we will	we'll
they will	they'll

For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we contract with won't, like this:

I will not	I won't
you will not	you won't
he will not she will not it will not	he won't she won't it won't
we will not	we won't
they will not	they won't

How do we use the Simple Future Tense?

No Plan

We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking. Look at these examples:

• Hold on. I'll get a pen.
• We will see what we can do to help you.
• Maybe we'll stay in and watch television tonight.

In these examples, we had no firm plan before speaking. The decision is made at the time of speaking.

We often use the simple future tense with the verb to think before it:

• I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
• I think I will have a holiday next year.
• I don't think I'll buy that car.

Prediction

We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. Again, there is no firm plan. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
• Who do you think will get the job?

Be

When the main verb is be, we can use the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking. Examples:

• I'll be in London tomorrow.
• I'm going shopping. I won't be very long.
• Will you be at work tomorrow?

The Past Continous Tense Understanding

I was singing

He was swimming

The past continuous tense is an important tense in English. We use it to say what we were in the middle of doing at a particular moment in the past.

In this lesson we look at the structure and the use of the past continuouse tense, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

>How do we make the Past Continuous Tense?

The structure of the past continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb BE	+	main verb
		conjugated in simple past tense		present participle
		was were		base + ing

For negative sentences in the past continuous tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Look at these example sentences with the past continuous tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	was		watching	TV.
+	You	were		working	hard.
-	He, she, it	was	not	helping	Mary.
-	We	were	not	joking.
?	Were	you		being	silly?
?	Were	they		playing	football?

>How do we use the Past Continuous Tense?

The past continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment. For example, yesterday I watched a film on TV. The film started at 7pm and finished at 9pm.

At 8pm yesterday, I was watching TV.
past	present	future
8pm
At 8pm, I was in the middle of watching TV.

When we use the past continuous tense, our listener usually knows or understands what time we are talking about. Look at these examples:

• I was working at 10pm last night.
• They were not playing football at 9am this morning.
• What were you doing at 10pm last night?
• What were you doing when he arrived?
• She was cooking when I telephoned her.
• We were having dinner when it started to rain.
• Ram went home early because it was snowing.We often use the past continuous tense to "set the scene" in stories. We use it to describe the background situation at the moment when the action begins. Often, the story starts with the past continuous tense and then moves into the simple past tense. Here is an example:
  
  " James Bond was driving through town. It was raining. The wind was blowing hard. Nobody was walking in the streets. Suddenly, Bond saw the killer in a telephone box..."> Past Continuous Tense + Simple Past Tense
  We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense. We use the past continuous tense to express a long action. And we use the simple past tense to express a short action that happens in the middle of the long action. We can join the two ideas with when or while.
  In the following example, we have two actions:
• long action (watching TV), expressed with past continuous tense
• short action (telephoned), expressed with simple past tense

past	present	future
Long action.
I was watching TV at 8pm. 8pm You telephoned at 8pm.
Short action.

We can join these two actions with when:

• I was watching TV when you telephoned.

(Notice that "when you telephoned" is also a way of defining the time [8pm].)

We use:

• when + short action (simple past tense)
• while + long action (past continuous tense)

There are four basic combinations:

	I was walking past the car	when	it exploded.
When	the car exploded		I was walking past it.
	The car exploded	while	I was walking past it.
While	I was walking past the car		it exploded.

Notice that the long action and short action are relative.

• "Watching TV" took a few hours. "Telephoned" took a few seconds.
• "Walking past the car" took a few seconds. "Exploded" took a few milliseconds.
  >past continous tense Quiz
  Use the past continuous tense or simple past tense as appropriate.
  

  1	My brother and sister arewaswere- playing tennis at 11am yesterday.	Click for answerwere
  2	WereAreWas- you still working at 7pm last night?	Click for answerWere
  3	At 8.30am today I wasamwere- driving to work.	Click for answerwas
  4	We wasweren'twon't- sleeping at 11pm.	Click for answerweren't
  5	Why wasdoeswere- he having lunch at 4pm?	Click for answerwas
  6	I (meet) John in town yesterday. He (shop).	Click for answermet Click for answerwas shopping
  7	Mary (wait) for me when I (arrive).	Click for answerwas waiting Click for answerarrived
  8	(he/have) a shower when I (call)?	Click for answerWas he having Click for answercalled
  9	I (not/know) what to say whenwhile- he asked that.	Click for answerdid not know Click for answerwhen
  10	The telephone rang whenwhile- we (watch) TV.	Click for answerwhile Click for answerwere watching

  
  
  
  

• Source : English CLub

the Present Continuous Tense

 Source : English club

>How do we make Present Continous tense?

The structure of the present continuous tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		be		base + ing

Look at these examples:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	am		speaking	to you.
+	You	are		reading	this.
-	She	is	not	staying	in London.
-	We	are	not	playing	football.
?	Is	he		watching	TV?
?	Are	they		waiting	for Agus?

>How do we use the Present Continuous Tense?

We use the present continuous tense to talk about:

• action happening now
• action in the future

Present continuous tense for action happening now

a) for action happening exactly now

I am eating my lunch.
past	present	future
	The action is happening now.

Look at these examples. Right now you are looking at this screen and at the same time...

...the pages are turning.	...                 the candle is burning.	...                        the numbers are spinning.

b) for action happening around now
The action may not be happening exactly now, but it is happening just before and just after now, and it is not permanent or habitual.

John is going out with Mary.
past	present	future
	The action is happening around now.

Look at these examples:

• Muriel is learning to drive.
• I am living with my sister until I find an apartment.

Present continuous tense for the future

We can also use the present continuous tense to talk about the future - if we add a future word!! We must add (or understand from the context) a future word. "Future words" include, for example, tomorrow, next year, in June, at Christmas etc. We only use the present continuous tense to talk about the future when we have planned to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision and a plan before speaking.

I am taking my exam next month.
past	present	future
!!!
	A firm plan or programme exists now.	The action is in the future.

Look at these examples:

• We're eating in a restaurant tonight. We've already booked the table..
• They can play tennis with you tomorrow. They're not working.
• When are you starting your new job?

In these examples, we have a firm plan or programme before speaking. The decision and plan were made before speaking.

>How do we spell the Present Continuous Tense?

We make the present continuous tense by adding -ing to the base verb. Normally it's simple - we just add -ing. But sometimes we have to change the word a little. Perhaps we double the last letter, or we drop a letter. Here are the rules to help you know how to spell the present continuous tense.

Basic rule	Just add -ing to the base verb:
	work	>	working
	play	>	playing
	assist	>	assisting
	see	>	seeing
	be	>	being
Exception 1	If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter: s t o p consonant stressed vowel consonant (vowels = a, e, i, o, u)
	stop	>	stopping
	run	>	running
	begin	>	beginning
	Note that this exception does not apply when the last syllable of the base verb is not stressed:
	open	>	opening
Exception 2	If the base verb ends in ie, change the ie to y:
	lie	>	lying
	die	>	dying
Exception 3	If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the e:
	come	>	coming
	mistake	>	mistaking

>Now check Your Understanding Of Present Continuous Tense (Quiz)

1	IsAreAm they coming over for dinner?	Click for answerAre
2	Maxwell isaream not sleeping on our sofa.	Click for answeris
3	My mother-in-law is staystayingbe staying at our house this week.	Click for answerstaying
4	I eateatingam eating my dinner right now.	Click for answeram eating
5	My sister learnis learninglearning Spanish.	Click for answeris learning
6	I workbe workingam working at the hair salon until September.	Click for answeram working
7	We eatare eatingeats at a fancy restaurant tonight. Jason decided this yesterday.	Click for answerare eating
8	When do you startstartingare starting your new art class?	Click for answerstart
9	They are openingopenningoppening a new record shop downtown.	Click for answeropening
10	Melissa is lieinglyingliying down on her bed.	Click for answerlying

The simple Past Tense

eTo make the simple past tense, we use:

• past form only
  or
• auxiliary did + base form

Here you can see examples of the past form and base form for irregular verbs and regular verbs:

	V1 base	V2 past	V3 past participle
regular verb	work explode like	worked exploded liked	worked exploded liked	The past form for all regular verbs ends in -ed.
irregular verb	go see sing	went saw sang	gone seen sung	The past form for irregular verbs is variable. You need to learn it by heart.
			You do not need the past participle form to make the simple past tense. It is shown here for completeness only.

The structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is:

subject	+	main verb
		past

The structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	not	+	main verb
		did				base

The structure for question sentences in the simple past tense is:

auxiliary verb	+	subject	+	main verb
did				base

The auxiliary verb did is not conjugated. It is the same for all persons (I did, you did, he did etc). And the base form and past form do not change. Look at these examples with the main verbs go and work:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I			went	to school.
	You			worked	very hard.
-	She	did	not	go	with me.
	We	did	not	work	yesterday.
?	Did	you		go	to London?
	Did	they		work	at home?

Exception! The verb to be is different. We conjugate the verb to be (I was, you were, he/she/it was, we were, they were); and we do not use an auxiliary for negative and question sentences. To make a question, we exchange the subject and verb. Look at these examples:

	subject	main verb
+	I, he/she/it	was		here.
	You, we, they	were		in London.
-	I, he/she/it	was	not	there.
	You, we, they	were	not	happy.
?	Was	I, he/she/it		right?
	Were	you, we, they		late?

How do we use the Simple Past Tense?

We use the simple past tense to talk about an action or a situation - an event - in the past. The event can be short or long.

Here are some short events with the simple past tense:

The car exploded at 9.30am yesterday. She went to the door. We did not hear the telephone. Did you see that car?
past	present	future
The action is in the past.

Here are some long events with the simple past tense:

I lived in Bangkok for 10 years. The Jurassic period lasted about 62 million years. We did not sing at the concert. Did you watch TV last night?
past	present	future
The action is in the past.

Notice that it does not matter how long ago the event is: it can be a few minutes or seconds in the past, or millions of years in the past. Also it does not matter how long the event is. It can be a few milliseconds (car explosion) or millions of years (Jurassic period). We use the simple past tense when:

• the event is in the past
• the event is completely finished
• we say (or understand) the time and/or place of the eventHere are some more examples:
• I lived in that house when I was young.
• He didn't like the movie.
• What did you eat for dinner?
• John drove to London on Monday.
• Mary did not go to work yesterday.
• Did you play tennis last week?
• I was at work yesterday.
• We were not late (for the train).
• Were you angry?

Note that when we tell a story, we usually use the simple past tense. We may use the past continuous tense to "set the scene", but we almost always use the simple past tense for the action. Look at this example of the beginning of a story:

"The wind was howling around the hotel and the rain was pouring down. It was cold. The door opened and James Bond entered. He took off his coat, which was very wet, and ordered a drink at the bar. He sat down in the corner of the lounge and quietly drank his..."

Simple Past Tense Quiz

1	I goedwentgone to the mall after school.	Click for answerwent
2	My brother seensawsees a bear an hour ago.	Click for answersaw
3	DidAreDoes Mike visit his grandmother last night?	Click for answerDid
4	Alex did not workworkedworking last weekend.	Click for answerwork
5	WasWereAre Judy and Liz at last month's meeting?	Click for answerWere
6	We werewasdid not happy after the sad ending.	Click for answerwere
7	AreDidDo you see Jody's new dog yesterday?	Click for answerDid
8	Sorry, I wasn'tdidn'tam not hear you at the door.	Click for answerdidn't
9	I studyingstudystudied English for two years.	Click for answerstudied
10	What dodidwere you eat for lunch yesterday?	Click for answerdid

Sumber :  English Club