Grade 7 English SPORTS:OUTDOOR GAMES – READING:FEATURES OF STYLE Notes
English — Reading: Features of Style
Topic: Sports — Outdoor Games (for age 12, Kenya). These notes explain the grammatical features writers use to create style in reading passages about outdoor games (e.g., football, athletics, netball, cricket).
What are "features of style" (grammar focus)?
Features of style are the grammar choices a writer makes — sentence types, word forms, punctuation and more — that change how a piece feels (fast, exciting, calm or serious). Below are the main grammatical features you will find when reading about outdoor games.
1. Sentence types: simple, compound, complex
- Simple sentence: one idea. Fast and strong.
Example: The ball bounced. ⚽
- Compound: two ideas joined (and, but, so). Example: The player kicked the ball, and the crowd cheered.
- Complex: includes a main clause + subordinate clause. Adds detail. Example: When the whistle blew, the runners sprinted.
2. Sentence length and rhythm
Short sentences make action feel quick. Long sentences give description or thought. Writers mix them for effect. Example (short then long): He scored. The whole field rushed forward, screaming and hugging one another.
3. Sentence openings (how sentences start)
Different openings (adverbs, -ing words, prepositional phrases) change focus. Examples: Quickly, she passed the ball. vs From the sideline, the coach shouted.
4. Active and passive voice
- Active voice puts the doer first and feels direct: The team won the match.
- Passive focuses on the action or receiver: The match was won by the team. Passive can make style more formal or avoid naming who did it.
5. Adjectives and adverbs (descriptive grammar)
Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs/adjectives. They make writing vivid. Example: A powerful shot. She ran quickly.
6. Punctuation and its style role
Commas, dashes, colons, exclamation marks and ellipses change pace and tone. Examples: Goal! (excitement) — He hesitated — then passed. (pause)
7. Modal verbs and imperatives
Modal verbs (can, must, might) and commands change tone: tell, advise, or show possibility. Examples: You must practise every day. vs Keep your eyes on the ball! (imperative)
8. Pronouns and point of view
First person (I, we) feels close; third person (he, she, they) is more like a reporter. Choice of pronoun affects reader connection. Example: We celebrated the win. vs They celebrated the win.
9. Parallelism and repetition
Using the same grammatical pattern in a list makes writing strong and memorable. Example: He ran, he jumped, he scored. (parallel verbs)
10. Rhetorical questions and negation
Rhetorical questions (no answer expected) and careful use of negatives can add feeling. Example: Who could forget that final goal?
- Short sentences = action and excitement.
- Long sentences = description or thought.
- Active voice = clear and direct; passive = formal or distant.
- Punctuation controls speed and feeling.
Examples from outdoor games (Kenyan school setting)
- Action (short, active): He kicked — goal!
- Description (long, complex): As the sun dropped behind the tall trees by the school field, the players slowed and walked back to the changing rooms, tired but happy.
- Instruction (imperative + parallel): Run hard, pass quickly, play fair.
- Report (passive for effect): The trophy was lifted by the captain amid loud cheers.
Practice (try these)
- Identify whether the sentence is simple, compound or complex: "When the whistle blew, the teams walked off."
- Is this active or passive? "The crowd cheered loudly."
- Which word is the adverb in: "She ran quickly to the ball"?
- Rewrite as a command (imperative): "You must keep your eyes on the ball."
Answers (click to open)
- Complex (main clause + subordinate clause "When the whistle blew").
- Active (subject "The crowd" does the action "cheered").
- "Quickly" is the adverb (it shows how she ran).
- Imperative: "Keep your eyes on the ball."
Use these grammar features when you read or write about sports. Notice sentence type, voice, and punctuation — they tell you how the writer wants you to feel.