A sentence The sentence book Sue Palmer

A sentence starts with a capital letter * ends with a full stop * makes complete sense. *

Midnight It was midnight. Dad and I were walking home from my sister’s wedding party. I’d never been out that late before. The streets were deserted and our footsteps echoed in the darkness. Suddenly there was an unearthly sound! It pierced the silent like an ice-cold wind. What was it? A scream? A howl? Ghosts? I stood rooted to the spot, shivers trickling down my spine. Dad stopped too. “It’s coming from the Brown’s house.” he said. “I promised I’d keep an eye on it for them while they’re on holiday.” Before I knew it, Dad was running down the Browns’ front drive. “Stay there!” he yelled to me. “No fear!” I replied. I had to follow, because I was too scared to stay behind.

Sentences can be statements questions ? exclamations ! It was midnight. I’d never been out that late before. statements What was it? Was I dreaming? questions ? What a terrible sound! No fear! exclamations ! Sentences can also be commands. Click to know more. Ways to vary sentences Story start example (1)

Sentences can be short… …or long It was midnight. Stop! What was it? * to attract attention * for dramatic impact * to move events on quickly As the clock struck midnight one bleak November night, a spine-chilling howl rang out, slowly and sadly, through the empty streets. …or long * to build up tension * for descriptive power * to give lots of information. Story start example (2)

Sentences can give background detail about what happened. a howl rang out where? when? how? slowly and sadly through the empty streets at midnight when where how You can move these , and chunks around to get different effects. You can also add descriptive words and phrases. spine-chilling like an ice-cold wind See Word Class Book Ways to vary sentences Story start example (3)

I don’t know. But I’m going to find out. Stay here! Sentences can be part of direct speech. “What is it?” I asked. What is it? “I don’t know,” Dad replied. “But I’m going to find out. Stay here!” I don’t know. But I’m going to find out. Stay here! “No fear!” I gasped. I’m coming too!” No fear! I’m coming too! direct speech reporting clause Ways to vary sentences Story start example (4)

Sentences can say …or they can just what someone did… tell what happened. A dog howled. A howl rang out. The thief left the door open. The door was open. The window had been broken. He had broken the window. There was nothing to be seen. We could see nothing. There are lots of ways to say the same thing - for instance, you don’t have to say whodunnit! Ways to vary sentences Story start example (5)

You can link simple sentences together with words like and and but. Coordination You can link simple sentences together with words like and and but. The streets were deserted. Our footsteps echoed in the darkness. The streets were deserted and our footsteps echoed in the darkness. We peered through the shadows. We could see nothing. We peered through the shadows but could see nothing. Dad yelled at me to stay put. He rushed off down the path. Dad yelled at me to stay put and rushed off down the path. These are called compound sentences. See also ‘The Complex Sentence Book’. Ways to vary sentences

You can link simple sentences together Subordination You can link simple sentences together with words like when, as and because. The clock struck midnight. A howl rang out. As the clock struck midnight, a howl rang out. Dad reached the house. He stopped and listened. When Dad reached the house, he stopped and listened. I followed because I was too scared to stay behind. I followed. I was too scared to stay behind. These are called complex sentences. See also ‘The Complex Sentence Book’. Ways to vary sentences

Ways to vary sentences Use different Use different sentence types – . ? ! Use different sentence lengths. Ways to vary sentences Use direct speech to carry the story. Vary the position of how when where chunks. Turn what someone did into what happened. Use linking words to make longer sentences. To make good sentences choose the best words.

choose the best words, e.g. (see The Word Class Book) To make good sentences, choose the best words, e.g. * powerful verbs * interesting adjectives and adverbs * precise nouns * the best conjunctions to link your ideas. (see The Word Class Book)

You can finish this story. First, plan it - for instance: take to vets howl! go in child gets black pup Dad and I Scary! Scary! time passes Intro Ending walking home! midnight Name: Midnight! Brown’s house – shed dog has had pups – howling for help Then write your story, using good sentences.

Skeleton Poster Books for GRAMMAR The End End Show

Midnight It was midnight. Dad and I were walking home from my sister’s wedding party. I’d never been out that late before. The streets were deserted and our footsteps echoed in the darkness. Suddenly there was an unearthly sound! It pierced the silent like an ice-cold wind. What was it? A scream? A howl? Ghosts? I stood rooted to the spot, shivers trickling down my spine. Dad stopped too. “It’s coming from the Brown’s house.” he said. “I promised I’d keep an eye on it for them while they’re on holiday.” Before I knew it, Dad was running down the Browns’ front drive. “Stay there!” he yelled to me. “No fear!” I replied. I had to follow, because I was too scared to stay behind. 1 2 3 4 5

Sentences can be statements questions ? exclamations ! commands It was midnight. I’d never been out that late before. statements What was it? Was I dreaming? questions ? What a terrible sound! No fear! exclamations ! Stay there! Please wait here. commands Next slide Ways to vary sentences Story start example (1)