Grammar Scaffolds: Complex Sentence Structures and Modality

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📚 Part 1: Understanding Complex Sentences in Crime Fiction

Learning Focus: Complex sentences help authors express cause, effect, condition, and uncertainty - essential elements in crime investigations like those in Jane Harper's The Dry.

1. Read this sentence from The Dry: "If the witness was lying about seeing Luke that night, then everything Falk believed about the case would change." What type of complex sentence structure is this?

Cause and effect

Conditional (if-then)

Comparison

Time sequence

2. Identify the modality words in this sentence: "Aaron might have missed crucial evidence, but he could still solve the mystery if he remained persistent." Circle all that apply:

might

could

still

remained

3. Which sentence shows the strongest level of certainty?

The suspect might be guilty.

The suspect could be guilty.

The suspect must be guilty.

The suspect may be guilty.

✏️ Part 2: Building Complex Sentences

Sentence Frames for Support:

• Conditional: If _______, then _______.

• Cause/Effect: Because _______, _______.

• Modality: The detective _______ (might/could/should/must) _______.

4. Rewrite this simple sentence as a complex sentence using a conditional structure: "Falk found new evidence. The case reopened."

5. Add modality to show uncertainty in investigation: "The fingerprints _______ belong to the suspect, but we _______ need more evidence to be certain."

Choose from: might, could, should, must, may, would

6. Create a complex sentence about Aaron Falk's investigation that includes:

• A subordinate clause showing cause or condition

• At least one modal verb (might, could, should, must, may, would)