Discovering sentence styles &
structures for successful writing
For essays and
assignments
For business
what is a
sentence?
simple
sentences
compound
sentences
complex
sentences
home page
A sentence is…
Click here!
A sentence is a
complete thought.
A sentence is one ‘unit’ of thought
that should be complete in sense and
structure.
A sentence should be written with
the correct punctuation marks and
word order.
One sentence is one thought or idea.
A sentence should start with a
capital letter…
Tony loves Lucy!
I am very busy at work.
He is hoping to go travelling.
Where are we going?
home page
Click here
…and end with:
• a full stop .
• a question mark ?
• an exclamation mark !
Different types of sentence:
•a statement is a sentence that ends in a full stop
•an exclamation is a sentence that ends with an exclamation
mark (to show feeling)
•a question is a sentence that begins with a questioning word
and ends in a question mark.
home page
Click here
Complete the sentence.
Type the correct end of sentence punctuation into the box (. ! ?)
to make the following sentences make sense.
1.
Are you coming shopping
2.
Where is James going
3.
Let’s get food – I’m starving
4.
Sarah has gone to the bank
Click here to look at questions
?
?
!
.
home page
Writing questions
Type the best questioning word into the box to complete these questions
if
why when where who how is are
1.
are we going to meet tonight?
2.
much will it cost?
3.
else is coming to the park?
4.
you glad you came to college today?
5.
old are you?
home page
Click here to learn about the
subject and verb
For a sentence to be complete it
should have a subject and a verb.
The subject is who
or what the sentence is
about, for example:
Tom loves to eat pasta.
Tom is the subject.
Activity:
type the subject of each
sentence into each box and
then get your work checked by your
tutor.
home page
1. Hazel loves to eat pizza.
1. Park Lane college is ace!
2. I enjoy learning.
1. My car is very old.
Click here to learn about the subject and verb
For a sentence to be complete it should
have a subject and a verb.
A verb is a ‘doing’
or ‘being’ word, for
example:
Activity:
type the verb from each sentence into each box and
then ask your tutor to check your work.
1. Sheila cooks tea.
Tom is happy.
Tom rides his
bicycle.
I am happy.
is, rides and am
are the verbs.
home page
2. Jamil likes beer.
3. Angela loves Roy.
Revision on complete
sentences - checklist
To check if you have written a complete sentence
ask yourself the following questions:
• Does my sentence start with a capital
letter?
• Does my sentence end with a full stop,
exclamation mark or a question mark?
• Does my sentence include a main subject
(the person or thing being written about)
• Does my sentence have a verb (a doing
word e.g. cook, eat, write, study, speak,
go, run,) or a ‘being’ word e.g. am, is, was,
are)
home page
Simple sentences
Here are some examples of simple sentences:
My name is Anna. I am nineteen years old. I come from
Ghana. I like to dance.
Write a simple sentence to answer each question:
1) What is your favourite hobby (what do you do for fun?)
2) Who is your favourite film actor / actress?
home page
Activity on compound sentences
home page
Conjunctions for
writing compound sentences
A compound sentence is made up of
two simple sentences joined
together. They are joined using the
co-ordinate conjunctions:
and, but, so, for, nor, yet, so
Example:
Michael likes his work. (simple sentence)
Michael works hard. (simple sentence)
Michael likes his job and works hard. (compound sentence)
Make the following into compound sentences using either
and, for, nor, but, so, yet – look at how the meaning of
the sentences change!
Bill was sad. Dave was happy.
Bill was sad
Dave was happy.
Edna was in love. Tim was not in love.
Edna was in love
Tim was not in love.
Asia likes Chinese food. Karen likes Indian food.
Asia likes Chinese food
Karen likes Indian food.
Asia likes going to the movies. Karen likes going to
the movies too.
Asia likes going to the movies
Karen likes going to the movies
too.
Click for more conjunctions
home page
Complex sentences
A complex sentence is usually made up of an independent clause (that
would make sense on its own) joined by one or more dependent
clauses (could not be a sentence on their own).
The meaning of these sentences is shown by the relationship between
the dependent clause and the independent clause (often shown by the
use of a subordinating conjunction).
Example:
Since I came back from my holiday, I have had a horrible cold.
He left the office early (independent), bought a paper (dependent)
and had a leisurely lunch (dependent clause).
Writing complex sentences
Conjunctions for
complex sentences
home page
Writing complex sentences
using subordinate conjunctions
1. What is your main reason for coming to
college?
I come to college because
2. What is your favourite food?
My favourite food is
because / as
.
home page
More on conjunctions
subordinate conjunctions
These conjunctions explain why: because
as
since
Question:
Why are you so happy today?
Answer:
I am happy because the sun is
shining!
Answer:
As it’s my birthday today, I’m
buying a new car!
Answer:
Since it’s my birthday, I’m going to the salon.
home page
More on conjunctions
More on conjunctions
subordinate conjunctions
These conjunctions are to do with time ( when):
after, when and since.
Question: Are you doing anything nice this evening?
Answer: When I have done all of my work, I will go to the
cinema.
After I have finished my work, I will go running.
home page
Writing complex sentences
Writing for business
Points to consider:
•
•
•
•
•
•
you need to have a clear idea of what you want to say (make a plan)
you need to be concise (brief)
you need to proof-read and revise your writing
avoid ‘flowery’ language (overly descriptive)
there are ‘stock phrases’ that you can use (see common phrases)
think about your format: are you writing a report, a memo, an email
or a letter?
• think carefully about who you are writing to
• use formal language – i.e. do not use contractions (shortened words
e.g. it’s, I’ve, you’ve, we’ve, don’t etc.)
home page
Study common phrases
Common phrases for
business writing
Reason for writing
home page
Enclosing (including)
documents
Please find enclosed…
I am writing to enquire
about…
I am writing to request… I am enclosing…
I am writing to confirm… Enclosed you will find…
I am writing with
reference to…
More common phrases
More on formal
writing
Common phrases for
business writing
home page
Making requests…
Ways to finish…
I would be grateful if…
I look forward to hearing
from you.
I look forward to your
reply / response.
Please do not hesitate to
contact me /us with any
questions / enquiries.
Thank you for your time.
I would appreciate…
Could you possibly…?
home page
How to address people
People you know…
People you don’t
know…
Dear Mr. Smith
Dear Ms. Smith (if you
don’t know of their
marital status)
Dear Mrs. Smith
Dear Sir / Madam,
Dear Miss Smith
To whom it may
concern,
Dear Ms. Smith
More on formal
writing
home page
How to finish a formal letter
People you know…
People you don’t
know…
Yours sincerely,
Yours faithfully,
Business writing summary
Business writing
Activity:
fill in the boxes with
the missing parts of
the letter.
home page
home page
Writing assignments / essays
Points to consider:
• essay writing is about arguing a point.
• usually, there is a key question to be answered and you
must refer back to this throughout your writing.
• in an essay you may have to put forward other people’s
views, and then argue a case for your own.
• it is useful to think about topic sentences and link sentences
for essay writing to help to structure your argument in a clear way.
Click below for
link
Click below for
link
Click below for
link
Click below for
link
Topic sentences
Concluding
sentences
Link sentences
Useful phrases
home page
The topic sentence
The topic sentence is
usually the first
sentence in any
paragraph and it
Introduces the main
point of that
paragraph.
The concluding
sentence ‘sums up’
that main point.
More on concluding sentences
Example:
Billy is a brilliant driving
instructor and has a lot of
experience. Billy has
taught hundreds of students
to drive over the past
seven years. They liked him
for his patience, his
skill and his great sense of
humour. These qualities
have enabled him to have a
successful career.
Concluding sentences
Write a concluding sentence for the
following paragraph:
I like all sorts of fruit. I eat strawberries,
apples, oranges, pears, blueberries and
apricots. I prefer strawberries to pears
because they are sweeter. I eat fruit for breakfast
and with my lunch.
home page
home page
Link sentences
Each paragraph needs to be linked to the
one before. This will make your writing ‘flow’ and your
arguments will be easier to follow.
Link sentences can act as a bridge between your
paragraphs, linking one idea to the next.
Examples of link sentence following on from the last
paragraph on ‘fruit’ might be:
I like fruit very much, but there are also many other foods
that I enjoy including…
Click here for some useful phrases for structuring an argument
home page
Useful phrases
I would argue that…
In my opinion…
It is my view that…
There is evidence to suggest that…
Furthermore…
Interestingly…