By: Linda J. Davis Adapted from “Sentence Starters” used in Andrew Pudewa’s “Institute for Excellence in Writing” based on “Blended Structure Style in Composition” by James P. Webster Edited by UWC Staff: Lisa Crawford, Lead Editor (© DBU University Writing Center)

There are actually six different ways to begin a sentence. A sentence can begin with the following: The subject A prepositional phrase An adverb A present participle phrase A past participle phrase A dependant clause

A sentence may begin with the subject: These are the types of sentences that begin with “the,” “a,” or a proper noun, like “Rover.” The dog ran home. The dog shivered outside the door. Rover shook the water off his soaked fur.

For added variety, begin a sentence with a prepositional phrase. Prepositions are words that connect nouns to the rest of the sentence. A prepositional phrase is comprised of a preposition and a noun phrase In the pouring rain, Rover ran home. Outside the door, Rover shivered in the cold. Before going up the steps, Rover shook off the excess water. On the porch, Rover licked his wet fur.

Also, try beginning a sentence with an adverb. Adverbs are words that usually end in –ly, and adverbs that begin a sentence are adverbials. Jauntily, the dog sloshed through the pouring rain. Violently, Rover shivered in the cold outside the door. Purposefully, Rover shook off the excess water before going up the steps. Carefully, Rover licked his wet fur on the porch.

Varying sentence starters even further, a present participle phrase may begin the sentence. Present participles are words that end in “-ing.” Running home quickly, the dog got soaked in the pouring rain. Shivering violently, Rover stopped in front of the porch stairs. Bounding up the steps, Rover shook out his water-logged coat. Sitting on the porch, Rover licked his wet fur.

Seasoned with past participle phrases, writing will have more zing. Past participles are words that end in “-ed.” Soaked from the pouring rain, Rover ran quickly. Aided by his canine instincts, he shook himself vigorously. Determined to get quickly onto the porch, Rover climbed the stairs in just one leap. Seated on the covered porch at last, Rover licked his wet fur.

When a sentence starts with a clause, the paragraph will have interesting variations. Dependent clauses have a subject and a verb, but begin with an adverb. Although Rover ran home quickly, he still got soaked in the pouring rain. While Rover shivered violently, he ran to the porch stairs. As he climbed the steps, Rover shook out his water-logged coat. After he sat on the porch, Rover licked his wet fur.

Here is a sample paragraph using one of each of the starters. Can you find them? Quickly running home, Rover sloshed through the pouring rain. Before going up the steps to the porch, he shook the water off his soaked coat. Tiredly, he plopped down on the porch and happily licked himself dry. Finished with his romp in the rain, Rover entered the warm house. Yawning, he settled gratefully on the braided rug near the roaring fire.

Quickly running home (present participle phrase), Rover sloshed through the pouring rain. Before going up the steps to the porch (two prepositional phrases), he shook the water off his soaked coat. Tiredly (adverbial), he plopped down on the porch and happily licked himself dry. Finished with his romp in the rain (past participle phrase), Rover entered the warm house. Yawning (present participle phrase), he settled gratefully on the braided rug near the roaring fire.