Sentence Openers(With me, Mrs. Cannon)

There are 6 ways to open a sentence. They add variety to the way our

sentences sound. It would be boring if all sentences sounded the same (like these

three do).

Since variety is our friend

(especially in writing),

I have a friend to help you learn

sentence openers. Mrs. Cannon’s

Roaming Gnome

Sentence opener # 1: Subject openerA subject opener opens with the subject of the sentence.

For example…

I love to feel the sand between my toes!

Since “I” is the subject of the sentence “I love the feeling of sand between my toes,”

it is a #1 subject opener.

I love to feel the sand between my toes!

Sentence opener # 2: Preposition opener

A preposition opener begins with a preposition. For example…

On this cruise ship, the food is fantastic!

Prepositions show the relationship between two nouns. In this

sentence, “cruise ship” and “food” are connected with the word “on.”

On this cruise ship, the food is fantastic!

Want the full list of prepositions? See

page 6 of the Student Resource

Notebook.

Sentence opener # 3: “-ly” adverb opener

An “-ly” opener starts with an “-ly” word followed by a comma.

For example…

Hungrily, I munched on

the conch creole.

Since it begins with an “-ly” adverb, this is clearly a #3

sentence opener.

Hungrily, I munched on

the conch creole.

Sentence opener # 4: “-ing” openerAn “-ing” opener begins with an “-ing” that is working as

a verb. For example…

Relaxing on the beach, I watch the

placid waves.

This only works if the “-ing” phrase is followed by a comma. Otherwise, it is not truly a #4.

Relaxing on the beach, I watch the

placid waves.

Sentence opener # 5: Adverb clause openerAn adverb clause opener begins with one of the words in

www.asia.buuba. For example…

When sitting on a towel elephant, l like to pretend

that I am in Asia.

Since it begins with when, this is a www.asia.buuba clause, so it is a #5 opener.

When sitting on a towel elephant, l like to pretend

that I am in Asia.

Sentence opener # 6: Very short sentenceA very short sentence is five words or less.

For example…

I hid behind the leaves. No one saw me.

Mrs. Bush never heard me.

Because each of these three sentences are under five words, they are very short sentences.

I hid behind the leaves. No one saw me.

Mrs. Bush never heard me.

5 words

4 words

5 words

Have a question? Just let me know!