GOAL = No More Than Two of the Same Sentence Opener in a Row

Sentence Openers (Put number in left margin) (GOAL = no more than two of the same sentence opener in a row)

1. Subject The tortoise felt confident and challenged the hare to a race. 2. Prepositional (see list below) – relates a noun (object of the prep) to another word in the sent. In a flurry, the shocked hare dashed toward the finish line. Since last year, killer bees have been found as far north as Arizona. 3. “ly” Adverb – tells when, where, why or how to the verb Calmly the triumphant tortoise placed his foot over the finish line. 4. Participle (“-ing”* / “-ed”) – verb phrases acting as adjectives Shrieking with fear, Peter scrambled to evade the rabid wolf. Deceived by the cunning fox, the narcissistic crow began her song.

*Note that some “-ing” words are actually gerunds (verb phrases acting as nouns) Dressing up your sentences improves your writing style. 5. Clausal (when, while, where, as, since, if, although [www.asia]); makes a complex sentence Although she was hungry, vanity overcame her, and she began to sing. Since the tortoise knew the hare to be lazy, he boldly made a challenge. 6. VSS (very short sentence = 5 words or less) “Thief!” he screeched. Call me Ishmael. Man proposes.

7. Transitions (see list below) – shows how ideas relate to each other; helps sentences flow Thereafter, all the tortoises in the land held their heads high. Do not curse the darkness. Instead, light a candle.

PREPOSITIONS about around by in spite of on top of toward above at down inside onto under according to because of during instead of out of underneath across before except into outside until across from behind far from like over up after below for near past upon against beneath from of since with along beside in off through within along with between in front of on throughout without among beyond in place of on account of to

TRANSITIONS Coordinating Conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (“fanboys”) Conjunctive Adverbs: furthermore, moreover, also, hence, still, however, nevertheless, then, besides, next, thereafter, indeed, nonetheless, therefore, instead, thus, likewise, otherwise, further, meanwhile