Homeroom R Name:
Date:
get
Writing Essentials
g Tar
Learn in Super Duper Sentence Starters
I can try out multiple leads and conclusions and decide which work best for
my essay.
Sometimes, when we write, we stick to what is simple and safe. Good writers,
though, spice up the structure of their sentences and use a variety of sentence
starters. Below you will find a number of options for strengthening your sentences. Use
this multiple source to revise your work, transforming the overused to outstanding.
1
Subject Openers
(**These are the sleepiest of sentences.**)
Article Pronouns Possessive Demonstrative ANY Common or
Pronouns Pronouns Proper Nouns
a I you my your this that dog book
an he she his her these those Billy
the we they it our theirs its Eiffel Tower
Examples:
1. The dog ran home
1. He shivered outside the door.
1. Rover shook the water off his soaked fur.
1. His tongue licked the wet fur.
simple subject + simple predicate + period
2
Adverbs
(When, where, how something happens; describe actions)
How? When? How often? Where? How much?
accurately inquisitively afterwards always above almost
angrily irritably again annually around completely
anxiously joyously before constantly away entirely
boisterously leisurely beforehand daily below little
cautiously loudly early hourly down much
cheerfully madly lately monthly downstairs rather
courageously merrily never never everywhere totally
crossly mistakenly now occasionally here very
cruelly nervously often often inside
defiantly outrageously punctually once outside
doubtfully passionately recently regularly there
elegantly peacefully soon repeatedly up
enthusiastically poorly then sometimes wherever
exclusively randomly today usually
faithfully quickly tomorrow yearly
foolishly sadly yesterday
frantically safely
gently shyly
gladly softly
gracefully solemnly Other useful adverbs
happily surprisingly
humbly vivaciously additionally fittingly insufficiently
hungrily weakly appropriately hence suitably
idealistically well consequently however therefore
inevitably wildly
inexcusably
Examples:
2. Jauntily, the dog sloshed through the pouring rain.
2. Violently, Rover shivered in the cold outside the door.
2. Purposefully, Rover shook off the excess water before going up the steps.
2. Carefully, Rover licked his wet fur on the porch.
“-ly” word + comma + independent clause + period
3
Present Participles (-ing Verbs)
(Action words)
Movement Voice Emotions Senses Thoughts
bouncing pushing addressing admiring caressing comprehending
carrying rolling begging bawling eating conceiving
collapsing rotating disputing blubbering feeling contemplating
crawling running encouraging crying hearing daydreaming
creating shaking giggling despairing licking dreaming
dancing skipping guessing frowning listening evaluating
fidgeting sneaking humming grinning noticing lamenting
helping spinning inspiring joking observing mediating
hitting splitting instigating laughing smelling pondering
hopping strolling laughing loving sniffing questioning
hurrying stumbling rapping sighing tasting reflecting
jumping tapping screaming smiling touching remembering
keeping throwing shouting smirking speculating
living trudging sighing trembling thinking
loosing turning singing weeping underestimating
moving wandering sobbing wincing visualizing
offering waving talking worrying
providing winding whispering
pulling zooming yawning
Other interesting verbs
changing focusing locating reporting selecting
collecting finding planning suggesting terminating
designing identifying preventing searching visiting
Examples:
3. Running home quickly, the dog got soaked in the pouring rain.
3. Shivering violently, Rover stopped in front of the porch stairs.
3. Bounding up the steps, Rover shook out his water-logged coat.
3. Sitting on the porch, Rover licked his wet fur.
“-ing” word + comma + independent clause + period
4
Causal Word / Clausal
(Dependent Clause - AAAWWUBBIS)
after as much as even if lest that when
although as soon as even though now that though whenever
as as though how provided till where
as if because if since unless wherever
as long as before inasmuch as so that until while
in order that than
Examples:
4. Although Rover ran home quickly, he still got soaked in the pouring rain.
4. While Rover shivered violently, he ran to the porch stairs.
4. As he climbed the steps, Rover shook out his water-logged coat.
4. After he sat on the porch, Rover licked his wet fur.
subordinate conjunction + comma + independent clause + period
5
Very short sentences
(DO NOT USE, except SPARINGLY, in narrative stories only!)
Examples:
5. The dog ran.
5. He shivered.
5. Rover shook.
5. He sat.
simple subject + simple predicate + period
6
-ed Verbs (or irregular verbs)
(Action words)
Movement Voice Emotions Senses Thoughts
bounced spun hummed admired caressed comprehended
carried split laughed bawled eaten conceived
collapsed spoken rapped blubbered felt contemplated
hit strolled screamed contented heard daydreamed
hurried stumbled shouted cried licked dreamed
juggled tapped sighed despaired observed evaluated
pulled thrown sung determined smelled lamented
pushed trudged sobbed frowned sniffed mediated
ripened turned talked grinned soaked pondered
rolled wandered whispered laughed tasted reflected
rotated waved yawned loved touched speculated
seated wound sighed thought
shook zoomed smiled visualized
skipped smirked
trembled
wept
winced
worried
Examples:
6. Soaked from the pouring rain, Rover ran quickly.
6. Aided by his canine instincts, he shook himself vigorously.
6. Determined to get quickly onto the porch, Rover climbed the stairs in one leap.
6. Seated on the covered porch at last, Rover licked his wet fur.
“-ed” word + comma + independent clause + period
7
Prepositional Phrases
(Locations in space or time)
about among beneath despite in front of near over
above around beside down inside of past
across at between during in spite of off regarding
after because of beyond except instead of on since
against before by for into onto through
along behind concerning from like out to
below in outside
Examples:
7. In the pouring rain, Rover ran home.
7. Outside, the door, Rover shivered in the cold.
7. Before going up the steps, Rover shook off the excess water.
7. On the porch, Rover licked his wet fur.
prepositional phrase + comma + independent clause + period
8
Descriptive & Sensory Adjectives
(Use at least 2)
Examples:
8. Heavy, weary paws carried Rover home.
8. Deep, penetrating cold caused Rover to shiver ceaselessly.
8. Rickety, slippery steps were soaked by the excess water Rover shook off.
8. Sloppy, wet licks cleaned up Rover’s fur.
adjective + comma + adjective + independent clause + period
Scholarly Sentence Starter Challenge
For the following sentences, circle the first word and label it with the
correct sentence starter number. Then, revise the sentence, turning it into
the sentence starter number given on the line. Add words, phrases or clauses
to make the sentence fit the starter.
Starter #
The dog trotted down the street.
Starter 2
Starter 7
Starter 8
Starter #
When she sang, the birds would stop and listen.
Starter 2
Starter 3
Starter #
Seeking something comforting, the toddler climbed into bed with his mother.
Starter 4
Starter 7
Starter #
Quietly, the thief snuck down the hallway.
Starter 7
Starter 3
Starter #
A pretty girl ran away from a robber.
Starter 3
Starter 6
Starter 7
Starter 8
Starter #
David wanted to scream but he couldn’t.
Starter 4
Starter 7
Starter 8
Try It!
Select a few sleepy #1 sentences from your own writing. Choose a super duper
sentence starter, and revise your sentence.
