Transition Words and
Phrases
Why do we need transitions?

Story transitions indicate a new scene or a
change in time. Story transitions for
narratives are different from transition
used in informational paragraphs and
essays. Story transitions help the reader as
the plot moves from one time or place to
another.
Grade 7 Narrative Writing
Without Transitions
I am haily and I am 12 years old. Can you imagine if you switch
places with you dog for one day it would be wired if you didn’t even know
what is going on how did you became a dog? Would that happened to me
one day.
I was at my house in my room it was at night I was thinking about
dogs and when I slept I was dreaming about them too and I don’t know why.
When I woked up I felt so cold them I touched my hair
and it was rough. I cold hear all the birds singing then…I opened my eyes
and I notice that I was sleeping out side laying in the grass and I got so
scared. I tried to get inside to see what was happening buy my mom would
not let me in she would say, “Go outsid shagy,” and I said, “what is wrong
with you mom i am your daughter,” but she would not answer me and she
didn’t let me in, so I stayed outside. I was laying back in the grass and I
looked at my foot and they wore not mines they looked like shagy’s foots
then I touched my ears and they wore long and hairy I looked at the window
and all I could see was a dog reflecting in the window, I creamed but all I
could hear wore barkings, I went crazy. I saw somebody opening the
door and it was me! I thought, “oh no that’s impossible!” I cannot belive that
I became a dog and that my dog had became me.
A day later
During
Never
After
Early in the morning
Next
After that
Finally
One evening
After we walked a while
For a while
Quickly
Afterwards
For the next few days
Right away
Almost as quickly
Hours went by
Several weeks later
An hour later
Immediately
Sometime later
Around noon
In between the time
Soon
As
In just twenty minutes
Suddenly
As soon as
In the late afternoon
That night
At dawn
In the meantime
The following day
At dusk
Just as
The next day
At first I saw
Just before dawn
Then
At the same time
Just then
When
Before
Later
When spring came
By four o’clock
Later on
When we arrived
By the time I arrived
Mean while
While
The Sandbox
One day, when I was five, I went to a local park with my
mom. While I was playing in the sandbox, I noticed a boy
about my age in a wheelchair. I went over to him and
asked if he could play. Since I was only five, I couldn’t
understand why he couldn’t just get in the sandbox and
play with me. He told me he couldn’t. I talked to him for
a while longer, then I took my large bucket, scooped up
as much sand as I could and dumped it into his lap. Then
I grabbed some toys and put them in his lap, too.
My mom rushed over and said, “Lucas, why did you do
that?”
I looked at her and replied, “He couldn’t play in the
sandbox with me, so I brought the sand to him. Now we
can play in the sand together.”
Lucas Parker, age 11
This excerpt was borrowed from the book Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul: 101 Stories of Courage, Hope and Laughter [ISBN 0-439-15984-9]
The Sandbox
One day, when I was five, I went to a local park with my
mom. While I was playing in the sandbox, I noticed a boy
about my age in a wheelchair. I went over to him and
asked if he could play. Since I was only five, I couldn’t
understand why he couldn’t just get in the sandbox and
play with me. He told me he couldn’t. I talked to him for
a while longer, then I took my large bucket, scooped up
as much sand as I could and dumped it into his lap. Then
I grabbed some toys and put them in his lap, too.
My mom rushed over and said, “Lucas, why did you do
that?”
I looked at her and replied, “He couldn’t play in the
sandbox with me, so I brought the sand to him. Now we
can play in the sand together.”
Lucas Parker, age 11
This excerpt was borrowed from the book Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul: 101 Stories of Courage, Hope and Laughter [ISBN 0-439-15984-9]
Game Time
In your table groups you will
be asked to create a sentence
using a transition word or
phrase. Points will be given for
creativity.
After we
walked a
while

Put both the subject and transition word
together to create a sentence with transition.
Add a transition to the
following:
The
weather
was
freezing.

Suddenly

Put both the subject and transition word
together to create a sentence with transition.
Add a transition to the
following:
Sophia
cheered
up.

Hours went
by

Put both the subject and transition word
together to create a sentence with transition.