Sentence Starters

Before we begin
Write a single paragraph on this topic:
Things I would want you to
know about me.
TRIPLE SPACE IT!!!

Ways to start sentences:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Subjects
Prepositions
Adverbs
ing/ed starters
Clausal openers
VSSs

1. Subject
Noun or pronoun
Most common way to start a sentence
in English
Subject can be found in places other
than the first word

Identify the subjects of these

sentences:
A. Taylor and Trinity went to 7-11 at
lunch.
B. They bought taquitos and slurpees.
C. Lunch was 40 minutes long.
D. I hate short lunch periods!

Subject Openers can be BORING

and REPETITIVE!
Taylor and Trinity went to 7-11 at lunch.
They waited in line, then they bought
taquitos and slurpees. They hurried
back to school, because lunch was
only 40 minutes long. The girls hate
short lunch periods!

These are more interesting:

E. Why does school have to start so early?
F. Homework is something I find difficult to
complete.
G. Running quickly, Aaron beat all the
other students to 7-11.
H. Instead of his homework, Ashton
handed in the lyrics of his favourite
song.

Look at your paragraph

How many of your sentences begin
with a subject? Number them above
the sentence starter with the letter 1.
What ratio of subjects to other
sentence starters do you use?
Fix it withediting and awareness!

2. Prepositions
Words that show position
Examples in, under, into, about,
above, among, before, except,
toward, since, etc.
Example Among my friends, I am
the level-headed one.

How can we change subject

openers to prepositions?
Taylor and Trinity went to 7-11 at lunch.
Inside, they waited in line, then they
bought taquitos and slurpees. They
hurried back to school, because lunch
was only 40 minutes long. Along with
other students, the girls hate short
lunch periods!

Which of these starts with a

preposition?
E. Bitterly, they yelled at each other.
F. Homework is something I find
difficult to complete.
G. Running, Aaron beat all the other
students to 7-11.
H. Instead of his homework, Ashton
handed in the lyrics of his favourite
song.

Look at your paragraph

Did you start any sentences with
prepositions? If so, number them
above the sentence starter with the
letter 2.
If you didnt, go in and re-write two
sentences so that they start with a
preposition!

3. Adverbs
Words that show how the action is
done how, how often, when, or how
much
Examples slowly, strangely, equally,
frankly, bitterly, peacefully, usually,
rarely, always, daily, repeatedly,
afterwards, again, before, almost
Example Slowly, she put down the
phone.

Which of these starts with an adverb?

E. Bitterly, they yelled at each other.
F. Homework is something I find
difficult to complete.
G. Running, Aaron beat all the other
students to 7-11.
H. Instead of his homework, Ashton
handed in the lyrics of his favourite
song.

Look at your paragraph

Did you start any sentences with
adverbs? If so, number them above
the sentence starter with the letter 3.
If you didnt, go in and re-write two
sentences so that they start with an
adverb!

4. ing/ed Starters
Participles verbs that end in ing or
ed
Example running, thinking, comforting,
exhausted, bewildered, depressed
Example - Walking, she made it to school
in 9 minutes. (note the comma)

Which of these starts with an ing/ed

participle?
E. Bitterly, they yelled at each other.
F. Homework is something I find
difficult to complete.
G. Running, Aaron beat all the other
students to 7-11.
H. Instead of his homework, Ashton
handed in the lyrics of his favourite
song.

Look at your paragraph

Did you start any sentences with
ing/ed words? If so, number them
above the sentence starter with the
letter 4.
If you didnt, go in and re-write two
sentences so that they start with a an
ing/ed word!

5. Clausal Openers
A clause is like a sentence, in that it
has a subject and a verb, but it is not
a sentence that can stand on its own
Ex. As I opened the door,
When I saw my brother,
Since I was done my homework,

www.asia
www = when, while, where
Example When Grace knocked, Anthony opened the
door.
a = as
Example As Amy did her work, she listened to music.
s = since
Example Since Monday is Thanksgiving, there is no
school.
i = if
Example If we go to Edmonton, Im buying Japanese
candy!
a = although
Example Although I hate beets, I love borscht!

Do any of these start with a clausal

opener (www.asia)?
E. Bitterly, they yelled at each other.
F. Homework is something I find
difficult to complete.
G. Running, Aaron beat all the other
students to 7-11.
H. Instead of his homework, Ashton
handed in the lyrics of his favourite
song.

Look at your paragraph

Did you start any sentences with
clausal openers? If so, number them
above the sentence starter with the
letter 5.
If you didnt, go in and re-write two
sentences so that they start with a
clausal opener (www.asia)!

6. VSS
Stands for very short sentence
5 words or less
Can be a one-word sentence (an
interjection), BUT these often dont work in
academic writing.
Must be a real sentence that makes sense!
Use sparingly!

Look at your paragraph

Add one sentence that is a VSS, and
number it with a 6.