1. Varying Sentence Structure

2. Basic Simplicity vs Style Read the paragraph below and note its basic simplicity. I love living in the city. I have a wonderful view of the entire city. I have an apartment. I can see the Golden Gate Bridge. I can see many cargo ships pass under the bridge each day. I like the restaurants in San Francisco. I can find wonderful food from just about every country. I don’t like the traffic in the city…

3. Basic Simplicity vs Style Read the paragraph below and note its basic simplicity. I love living in the city. I have a wonderful view of the entire city. I have an apartment. I can see the Golden Gate Bridge. I can see many cargo ships pass under the bridge each day. I like the restaurants in San Francisco. I can find wonderful food from just about every country. I don’t like the traffic in the city…

4. More Varied and Sophisticated I love living in the Sunshine State’s city of San Francisco. With a wonderful view of the entire cityscape from my apartment window, I can even see the Golden Gate Bridge. Hearing the passing cargo ships reminds me of the city’s vibrancy. Because there is a variety of restaurants, I also like San Francisco’s culinary scene. However, I don’t like the traffic in the city…

5. Other ways to start sentences With an adverb/adverb phrase With an –ing phrase With a prepositional phrase With an appositive With an infinitive

6. Adverb/Adverb phrase Tells who, what, when, where, to what extent When I go to college, I will study pediatrics. Quietly, the fox approached the den. After I finish work, I will meet friends. As long as we have known each other, we have liked video gaming.

7. Gerund: -ing phrase Listening to my iPod is the best way to relax after school. Going to camp this summer will keep me busy. Buying a car will drain my savings account.

8. Prepositional phrase Phrase to help reveal relationships among words (at, before, on, of, through, over, around, with, on, until) Before noon on Saturdays, I can call overseas for a discounted rate. With a smile I accepted my diploma. On the counter you will find dessert.

9. Appositive Noun or noun phrase that names the person, place, or thing right next to it. A large cockroach with hairy legs, the insect crawled across the table.

10. Appositive cont’d The worst disaster area in the house, the laundry room is a volcano of dirty clothes. A silent enemy, cancer is a tragic disease.

11. Infinitive phrase “to” + a verb (phrase) To keep a healthy body, I go to the gym. To go to Harvard is her dream. To postpone the trial is a judicious decision.

12. Practice See flipchart for practice sentences.