Using a variety of

sentence openers to make

our writing more
interesting.
One of the most common ways to start a sentence is to begin with the thing being described
as subject(first word). So we start with ‘the...’, or ‘she/he/it...’, followed by the verb (action).

Eg: The lanky, unkempt fellow

moved down the canal path...
 This way of structuring the
sentence can get a bit boring...
The car was very fast.
It (the car again) drove around the corner
before spinning out.
Its passenger was saved by the seatbelt as the
car’s brakes gave out, and it rolled onto the
pavement.
The passenger managed to prise open the door
and crawl onto a grassy strip out of danger.
Use an ‘ly’ (adverb) opening
word:
Unsteadily, the lanky, unkempt
fellow moved down the
alleyway...
Open your sentence with
words indicating location:

Along the canal towpath , the

lanky, unkempt fellow ambled
slowly...
Start the sentence using
a word ending in “ing”:
Ambling along the canal tow path,
the intoxicated thief spied his
victim...
 ‘Drop in’ clause or
‘comma sandwich’:

The inebriated man, who was

lanky and unkempt, stumbled
along the canal towpath...
 Use a variety of sentence
lengths, from short and punchy,
to more complex:
She froze.
They waited.
He fell to the ground, with a
thud.
 Use ‘although’, or ‘despite’
as a sentence starter:
Although he was intoxicated, the thief
managed to escape through the
deserted canal towpaths which criss-
crossed the city...
Despite his intoxicated state, the thief
was able to escape through the
deserted canal towpaths...
 Open using a word
ending in –ed:

Terrified, the girl darted out

of the path of her pursuer...
 Use a simile:
Like a stealthy cat stalking its prey,
the mugger approached his
target
As smoothly as a sea snake gliding
through the water...
 Use alliteration:

Ragged, rough and rank, the

criminal closed in on the
student walking alone down
the alley...
 Use group of three, for
impact:
She staggered home, yanked off
her painful shoes, and made a
cup of tea...
Speech, followed by action
with an ‘ing’ clause:

“Help me!”, he screamed,

tripping on the slimy
cobblestones..
 Use personification:

The moon peeped meekly

from behind the sullen
night clouds...
 Use time: including time of
day, season, and
temperature:

At 6pm on an icy winter

evening...
 Start with a name:
Detective Marshall didn’t
believe a word of the
devious criminal’s story...
 Start with a question:

“Are you sure its safe to

walk by the canal
tonight?” asked his anxious
girlfriend.
 Start with a wish:
Why couldn’t he be lying safely
wrapped in his fluffy duvet
instead of here bleeding into the
slush and snow...
 Describe the scene:

On the edge of town stood

a derelict building that no
one ever dared enter...
Introduce a new character:
Her name was Morwenna
and everyone realised
there was something
mysterious about her right
from the beginning...
 Begin a sentence with
dramatic action:
The gun fired as the bank robber
leapt through the window in
escape...