Other Ways to Say “More Information”: Expanding Your Sentences

“More information” is a common phrase used when requesting or providing additional details—but repeating it too often can make your writing feel flat or overly formal. If you’re looking to vary your language while keeping your meaning clear, here are some useful alternatives:

• Further details – slightly more formal and specific
• Additional context – helpful when explaining background or reasoning
• Extra insight – suggests deeper or behind-the-scenes knowledge
• Clarifying points – good for follow-up or elaboration

These expressions work well in emails, reports, academic writing, or conversations where you want to request or offer extra clarity.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition: Adding More Information
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
  • Relative Clauses
  • Appositives
  • Participial Phrases
  • Absolute Phrases
  • Prepositional Phrases
  • Adverbial Clauses
  • Coordination (Using Conjunctions)
• Examples
  • Relative Clause Examples
  • Appositive Examples
  • Participial Phrase Examples
  • Absolute Phrase Examples
  • Prepositional Phrase Examples
  • Adverbial Clause Examples
  • Coordination Examples
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
  • Exercise 1: Relative Clauses
  • Exercise 2: Appositives
  • Exercise 3: Participial Phrases
  • Exercise 4: Absolute Phrases
  • Exercise 5: Prepositional Phrases
  • Exercise 6: Adverbial Clauses
  • Exercise 7: Coordination
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition: Adding More Information

Adding more information to a sentence involves expanding upon its core meaning by including additional details, explanations, or context. This can be achieved through various grammatical structures, each serving a specific purpose in enriching the sentence’s content.

These structures allow writers and speakers to provide a more complete and nuanced picture, enhancing clarity and engagement. The aim is to make the sentence not only informative but also more descriptive and interesting.

The ability to effectively add more information is crucial for clear and precise communication. It allows you to elaborate on ideas, provide context, and offer additional details that enhance understanding.

By mastering these techniques, you can significantly improve the quality and impact of your writing and speaking.

Structural Breakdown

The structures used to add more information can be broken down into several key components. These include phrases and clauses that attach to the main clause, providing additional details about nouns, verbs, or the entire sentence.

Understanding the structure of these additions is essential for using them correctly and effectively.

Each structure has its own unique grammatical properties and functions. For example, a relative clause typically modifies a noun, while an adverbial clause modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

By understanding these distinctions, you can choose the most appropriate structure for conveying the intended meaning.

Types and Categories

There are several ways to add more information to a sentence. Here are some of the most common methods:

Relative Clauses

A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. It is introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).

Relative clauses provide additional information about the noun they modify, helping to identify or describe it more specifically.

There are two main types of relative clauses: restrictive (or defining) and non-restrictive (or non-defining). Restrictive clauses are essential to the meaning of the sentence, while non-restrictive clauses provide additional, non-essential information and are set off by commas.

Appositives

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or describes another noun or noun phrase. Appositives are typically placed directly after the noun they modify and are set off by commas.

They provide additional information about the noun, often clarifying its meaning or providing further details.

Appositives can be either restrictive or non-restrictive. Restrictive appositives are essential to the meaning of the sentence and are not set off by commas, while non-restrictive appositives provide additional, non-essential information and are set off by commas.

Participial Phrases

A participial phrase is a phrase that begins with a participle (a verb form ending in -ing or -ed) and modifies a noun or pronoun. Participial phrases provide additional information about the noun, often describing an action or state of being.

They can add detail and vividness to your writing.

Participial phrases can function as either adjectival phrases, modifying nouns, or adverbial phrases, modifying verbs or entire clauses. The type of function depends on the context and the relationship between the phrase and the rest of the sentence.

Absolute Phrases

An absolute phrase is a phrase that modifies an entire clause or sentence. It typically consists of a noun or pronoun followed by a participle or participial phrase.

Absolute phrases provide additional information about the circumstances or conditions surrounding the main clause.

Absolute phrases are grammatically independent of the main clause and do not directly modify any specific word. They add context and background information, often explaining the reason for or the result of the action described in the main clause.

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition (e.g., in, on, at, of, to, from, with, by) and includes a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition). Prepositional phrases can function as adjectives, modifying nouns, or as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

They provide additional information about location, time, manner, or other relationships.

Prepositional phrases are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways to add detail and context to your sentences. They are an essential tool for describing relationships between objects, actions, and ideas.

Adverbial Clauses

An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It is introduced by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, if, when, while, since).

Adverbial clauses provide information about time, place, reason, condition, manner, or purpose.

Adverbial clauses add depth and complexity to your sentences, allowing you to express nuanced relationships between ideas. They are essential for conveying cause and effect, contrast, and other complex relationships.

Coordination (Using Conjunctions)

Coordination involves joining two or more words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank using coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Coordination allows you to combine related ideas into a single sentence, creating a more concise and coherent expression.

Coordination is a fundamental tool for building complex sentences and expressing multiple ideas in a clear and logical manner. It is essential for creating a smooth and natural flow of information.

Examples

This section provides extensive examples of each type of structure used to add more information. Each subsection includes a table with multiple examples to illustrate the usage and variations of each structure.

Relative Clause Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using relative clauses to add more information. Notice how the relative clauses modify the nouns they follow, providing additional details.

Sentence	Relative Clause	Type
The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.	that I borrowed from the library	Restrictive
My sister, who lives in London, is a doctor.	who lives in London	Non-Restrictive
The car, which I bought last year, has already broken down.	which I bought last year	Non-Restrictive
The student who studies hard will succeed.	who studies hard	Restrictive
The house where I grew up is now a restaurant.	where I grew up	Restrictive
I remember the day when we first met.	when we first met	Restrictive
That’s the reason why I’m so happy.	why I’m so happy	Restrictive
The man whom I saw yesterday is my uncle.	whom I saw yesterday	Restrictive
This is the cake that my mother baked.	that my mother baked	Restrictive
The movie, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, was a blockbuster.	which was directed by Steven Spielberg	Non-Restrictive
The city where I want to live is Tokyo.	where I want to live	Restrictive
The reason why I’m late is because of the traffic.	why I’m late	Restrictive
My friend, whose car broke down, couldn’t come to the party.	whose car broke down	Non-Restrictive
The song that I’m listening to is my favorite.	that I’m listening to	Restrictive
The teacher, who is very experienced, explained the concept clearly.	who is very experienced	Non-Restrictive
The cat that is sleeping on the couch is mine.	that is sleeping on the couch	Restrictive
The restaurant, which is on the corner, is very popular.	which is on the corner	Non-Restrictive
The time when I feel most relaxed is in the evening.	when I feel most relaxed	Restrictive
The game, which I played with my friends, was a lot of fun.	which I played with my friends	Non-Restrictive
The person who helped me was very kind.	who helped me	Restrictive
The painting that hangs in the museum is priceless.	that hangs in the museum	Restrictive
My neighbor, who is a retired teacher, volunteers at the library.	who is a retired teacher	Non-Restrictive
The computer that I use for work is very old.	that I use for work	Restrictive
The park, which is near my house, is always crowded.	which is near my house	Non-Restrictive
The movie that we watched last night was scary.	that we watched last night	Restrictive

Appositive Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using appositives to add more information. Notice how the appositives rename or describe the nouns they follow, providing additional details.

Sentence	Appositive	Type
My friend John is a doctor.	John	Restrictive
Paris, the capital of France, is a beautiful city.	the capital of France	Non-Restrictive
Shakespeare, a famous playwright, wrote many tragedies.	a famous playwright	Non-Restrictive
The CEO, Mr. Smith, announced the new policy.	Mr. Smith	Non-Restrictive
My dog, a golden retriever, loves to play fetch.	a golden retriever	Non-Restrictive
The book, a bestseller, was adapted into a movie.	a bestseller	Non-Restrictive
Einstein, a brilliant scientist, developed the theory of relativity.	a brilliant scientist	Non-Restrictive
My brother, a talented musician, plays the piano.	a talented musician	Non-Restrictive
The river, a major waterway, is used for transportation.	a major waterway	Non-Restrictive
The dessert, a chocolate cake, was delicious.	a chocolate cake	Non-Restrictive
The actor, a Hollywood star, signed autographs.	a Hollywood star	Non-Restrictive
My car, a vintage Mustang, is my pride and joy.	a vintage Mustang	Non-Restrictive
The mountain, a popular hiking destination, attracts many tourists.	a popular hiking destination	Non-Restrictive
The game, a challenging puzzle, kept me entertained for hours.	a challenging puzzle	Non-Restrictive
The singer, a pop sensation, sold out the concert.	a pop sensation	Non-Restrictive
The author, a Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote a new novel.	a Pulitzer Prize winner	Non-Restrictive
The city, a cultural hub, is known for its museums.	a cultural hub	Non-Restrictive
My favorite sport, basketball, is very exciting.	basketball	Non-Restrictive
The project, a major undertaking, required a lot of effort.	a major undertaking	Non-Restrictive
The restaurant, a local favorite, serves delicious food.	a local favorite	Non-Restrictive
My teacher, Ms. Johnson, is very helpful.	Ms. Johnson	Non-Restrictive
The company, a tech giant, is launching a new product.	a tech giant	Non-Restrictive
The garden, a peaceful oasis, is my favorite place.	a peaceful oasis	Non-Restrictive
The film, a classic masterpiece, is worth watching.	a classic masterpiece	Non-Restrictive
My neighbor, Mr. Brown, is a retired engineer.	Mr. Brown	Non-Restrictive

Participial Phrase Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using participial phrases to add more information. Notice how the participial phrases modify the nouns or pronouns they follow, describing an action or state of being.

Sentence	Participial Phrase
The dog, wagging its tail, greeted me at the door.	wagging its tail
Walking down the street, I saw a friend.	Walking down the street
The car, parked on the corner, was blocking traffic.	parked on the corner
Having finished my work, I went home.	Having finished my work
The girl, singing a song, walked through the park.	singing a song
The building, destroyed by the fire, was never rebuilt.	destroyed by the fire
Smiling, she accepted the award.	Smiling
Covered in snow, the mountain looked majestic.	Covered in snow
Exhausted from the race, he collapsed on the ground.	Exhausted from the race
The letter, written in haste, contained several errors.	written in haste
Knowing the answer, she raised her hand.	Knowing the answer
The cake, decorated with flowers, looked beautiful.	decorated with flowers
The man, wearing a hat, walked into the store.	wearing a hat
Having studied hard, he passed the exam.	Having studied hard
The movie, directed by Spielberg, was a success.	directed by Spielberg
Standing on the hill, we could see the entire valley.	Standing on the hill
The book, filled with illustrations, was fascinating.	filled with illustrations
Looking out the window, I saw the rain falling.	Looking out the window
The project, completed on time, was a great achievement.	completed on time
Listening to music, I felt relaxed.	Listening to music
The tree, struck by lightning, fell to the ground.	struck by lightning
Feeling tired, I decided to take a nap.	Feeling tired
The report, revised several times, was finally approved.	revised several times
Watching the sunset, we felt peaceful.	Watching the sunset
The food, cooked with care, tasted delicious.	cooked with care

Absolute Phrase Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using absolute phrases to add more information. Notice how the absolute phrases modify the entire clause, providing additional context or background information.

Sentence	Absolute Phrase
The weather being warm, we decided to go for a walk.	The weather being warm
Dinner having been served, we began to relax.	Dinner having been served
The game over, the crowd dispersed.	The game over
His work finished, he went home.	His work finished
The sun setting, we packed up our picnic.	The sun setting
All things considered, it was a good day.	All things considered
The lecture finished, the students left the hall.	The lecture finished
Her eyes shining, she accepted the gift.	Her eyes shining
The meeting adjourned, we went for coffee.	The meeting adjourned
The rain stopped, we went outside.	The rain stopped
The music playing, we started to dance.	The music playing
The project completed, we celebrated our success.	The project completed
The exams over, the students were relieved.	The exams over
The food prepared, we invited our friends.	The food prepared
The house cleaned, we relaxed and watched a movie.	The house cleaned
The task completed, he felt a sense of accomplishment.	The task completed
The journey finished, they arrived at their destination.	The journey finished
The show over, the audience applauded.	The show over
The work done, we could finally rest.	The work done
The report written, it was ready for submission.	The report written
The problem solved, everyone was happy.	The problem solved
The performance ended, the crowd cheered.	The performance ended
The speech given, the speaker sat down.	The speech given
The presentation finished, there was time for questions.	The presentation finished
The lesson taught, the students were dismissed.	The lesson taught

Prepositional Phrase Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using prepositional phrases to add more information. Notice how the prepositional phrases modify nouns, verbs, or adjectives, providing details about location, time, manner, or other relationships.

Sentence	Prepositional Phrase	Function
The book is on the table.	on the table	Adverbial
She walked to the store.	to the store	Adverbial
The cat with the long tail is mine.	with the long tail	Adjectival
He arrived at noon.	at noon	Adverbial
The gift is for you.	for you	Adverbial
She spoke with confidence.	with confidence	Adverbial
The house by the river is beautiful.	by the river	Adjectival
He lives in London.	in London	Adverbial
The meeting is scheduled for Monday.	for Monday	Adverbial
She is interested in science.	in science	Adjectival
He ran through the forest.	through the forest	Adverbial
The picture on the wall is old.	on the wall	Adjectival
She traveled to Italy.	to Italy	Adverbial
The car of my dreams is expensive.	of my dreams	Adjectival
He works from home.	from home	Adverbial
The flowers in the vase are pretty.	in the vase	Adjectival
She is good at math.	at math	Adjectival
He succeeded through hard work.	through hard work	Adverbial
The key to success is perseverance.	to success	Adjectival
She is afraid of spiders.	of spiders	Adjectival
He walked along the beach.	along the beach	Adverbial
The story about the hero is inspiring.	about the hero	Adjectival
She is known for her kindness.	for her kindness	Adjectival
He is responsible for the project.	for the project	Adjectival
The train to New York is delayed.	to New York	Adjectival

Adverbial Clause Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using adverbial clauses to add more information. Notice how the adverbial clauses modify the verbs, adjectives, or adverbs in the main clause, providing details about time, place, reason, condition, manner, or purpose.

Sentence	Adverbial Clause	Type
I will go to the party if I have time.	if I have time	Condition
Because it was raining, we stayed inside.	Because it was raining	Reason
When the bell rings, the class will begin.	When the bell rings	Time
Although he was tired, he kept working.	Although he was tired	Contrast
He studies hard so that he can pass the exam.	so that he can pass the exam	Purpose
Where there is a will, there is a way.	Where there is a will	Place
Since you are here, we can start the meeting.	Since you are here	Reason
While I was walking, I saw an accident.	While I was walking	Time
As he grew older, he became wiser.	As he grew older	Time
Unless you hurry, you will miss the bus.	Unless you hurry	Condition
Before you leave, please turn off the lights.	Before you leave	Time
Even though it was difficult, she succeeded.	Even though it was difficult	Contrast
So that everyone can hear, please speak loudly.	So that everyone can hear	Purpose
Wherever you go, I will follow you.	Wherever you go	Place
As long as you try, I will support you.	As long as you try	Condition
After the movie ended, we went home.	After the movie ended	Time
In order that we understand, the teacher explained clearly.	In order that we understand	Purpose
Because she was late, she missed the beginning.	Because she was late	Reason
Whenever I see him, he is smiling.	Whenever I see him	Time
If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.	If it rains tomorrow	Condition
Since he is a doctor, he can help you.	Since he is a doctor	Reason
While she was cooking, he was cleaning.	While she was cooking	Time
Though it was expensive, I bought it.	Though it was expensive	Contrast
So that she could see, she wore glasses.	So that she could see	Purpose
Where there is smoke, there is fire.	Where there is smoke	Place

Coordination Examples

The following table provides examples of sentences using coordination to add more information. Notice how the coordinating conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank, combining related ideas into a single sentence.

Sentence	Coordinating Conjunction	Elements Joined
I like coffee and tea.	and	nouns
She is smart but lazy.	but	adjectives
He can read or write.	or	verbs
I didn’t go, nor did she.	nor	clauses
He was tired, for he had worked all day.	for	clauses
Study hard, so you will pass the exam.	so	clauses
She is beautiful, yet she is humble.	yet	clauses
He is tall and handsome.	and	adjectives
She went to the store but didn’t buy anything.	but	clauses
You can choose coffee or tea.	or	nouns
He doesn’t like coffee, nor does he like tea.	nor	clauses
She was happy, for she had won the prize.	for	clauses
Work hard, so you can achieve your goals.	so	clauses
It was raining, yet we went for a walk.	yet	clauses
He is rich and famous.	and	adjectives
She tried hard but failed.	but	clauses
You can stay or leave.	or	verbs
I don’t like coffee, nor do I like soda.	nor	clauses
He was late, for he missed the bus.	for	clauses
Be careful, so you don’t fall.	so	clauses
It was cold, yet she wore a dress.	yet	clauses
He is kind and generous.	and	adjectives
She studied hard but didn’t pass the test.	but	clauses
You can eat now or later.	or	adverbs
I don’t like him, nor do I trust him.	nor	clauses
She was tired, for she had been working all day.	for	clauses
Be quiet, so you don’t wake the baby.	so	clauses
He is poor, yet he is happy.	yet	clauses

Usage Rules

When adding more information to sentences, it’s important to follow certain grammatical rules to ensure clarity and correctness. Here are some key rules to keep in mind:

• Relative Clauses: Use the correct relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that) depending on whether the clause refers to a person or thing. Use commas to set off non-restrictive clauses.
• Appositives: Ensure that the appositive renames or describes the noun it follows accurately. Use commas to set off non-restrictive appositives.
• Participial Phrases: Make sure the participle agrees with the noun it modifies. Place the phrase as close as possible to the noun it modifies to avoid ambiguity.
• Absolute Phrases: Ensure the phrase includes a noun or pronoun followed by a participle. The phrase should logically relate to the main clause.
• Prepositional Phrases: Use the correct preposition to express the intended relationship (e.g., location, time, manner). Place the phrase in a position that clearly indicates what it modifies.
• Adverbial Clauses: Use the appropriate subordinating conjunction to express the intended relationship (e.g., cause, condition, time). Ensure the clause is grammatically complete.
• Coordination: Use the correct coordinating conjunction to join elements of equal grammatical rank. Ensure that the elements being joined are logically related.

By following these rules, you can ensure that your sentences are clear, grammatically correct, and effectively convey the intended meaning.

Common Mistakes

Even with a good understanding of the rules, it’s easy to make mistakes when adding more information to sentences. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Misplaced Modifiers: Placing a phrase or clause in a position that makes it unclear which word it modifies.
  Example: Walking down the street, the dog barked loudly. Walking down the street, I heard the dog bark loudly.
• Dangling Participles: Using a participial phrase without a clear subject to modify.
  Example: Having finished the work, the movie was watched. Having finished the work, we watched the movie.
• Incorrect Relative Pronouns: Using the wrong relative pronoun (e.g., who for things, which for people).
  Example: The book who I read was interesting. The book that I read was interesting.
• Comma Splices: Joining two independent clauses with only a comma.
  Example: It was raining, we stayed inside. It was raining, so we stayed inside.
• Lack of Agreement: Failing to ensure that verbs and pronouns agree with their subjects in number and gender.
  Example: The dog, wagging their tail, is happy. The dog, wagging its tail, is happy.
• Misuse of Appositives: Using an appositive that doesn’t accurately rename or describe the noun it follows.
  Example: My friend, a car, is coming over. My friend, a mechanic, is coming over.

By being aware of these common mistakes, you can avoid them in your own writing and speaking, ensuring greater clarity and accuracy.

Practice Exercises

This section provides a series of exercises to help you practice using the different structures for adding more information. Each exercise focuses on a specific type of structure and includes a set of sentences to complete or revise.

Exercise 1: Relative Clauses

Exercise 2: Appositives

Exercise 3: Participial Phrases

Exercise 4: Absolute Phrases

Exercise 5: Prepositional Phrases

Exercise 6: Adverbial Clauses

Exercise 7: Coordination

Advanced Topics

Once you’ve mastered the basic structures for adding more information, you can explore more advanced topics, such as:

• Reduced Relative Clauses: Relative clauses that have been shortened by omitting the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb (e.g., “The book I read” instead of “The book that I read”).
• Embedded Clauses: Clauses that are nested within other clauses, creating complex sentence structures.
• Nominal Relative Clauses: Relative clauses that function as nouns (e.g., “What I need is a vacation”).
• Fronting: Moving a phrase or clause to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.
• Cleft Sentences: Sentences that emphasize a particular element by using the structure “It is/was + emphasized element + that/who/which + remaining information” (e.g., “It was John who broke the window”).

Exploring these advanced topics will further enhance your ability to write complex and nuanced sentences, allowing you to express your ideas with greater precision and sophistication.

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering the art of adding more information to sentences is a crucial skill for effective communication. By understanding and practicing the various grammatical structures discussed in this article, you can significantly enhance your ability to express your ideas clearly, precisely, and engagingly.

Whether you’re writing an essay, giving a presentation, or simply conversing with others, the ability to add detail and context will make you a more confident and effective communicator. Keep practicing, and you’ll find that your writing and speaking become richer, more nuanced, and more impactful.