Sentence Variety Review
1. Adverbs as a sentence opener. Below is a list of adverbs that can be used to open sentences. A comma
must follow the opening adverb.
Adverbs
Great Sentence Starters
Angrily
Anxiously
Awkwardly
Boastfully
Bravely
Carelessly
Cautiously
Courageously
Defiantly
Deliberately
Doubtfully
Elegantly
Enormously
Enthusiastically
Faithfully
Fiercely
Fondly
Foolishly
Fortunately
Frantically
Gracefully
Innocently
Inquisitively
Justly
Merrily
Mysteriously
Obediently
Obnoxiously
Powerfully
Promptly
Rapidly
Recklessly
Reluctantly
Repeatedly
Rudely
Selfishly
Silently
Solemnly
Stealthily
Sternly
Suspiciously
Tenderly
Thoughtfully
Unexpectedly
Victoriously
Vivaciously
Warmly
Weakly
Wearily
Wildly
Hesitantly, the insecure student raised his hand to answer the question.
Foolishly, Wayne’s brother honestly responded to every question asked.
2. Compound adjectives as sentence openers. A comma must follow the opening adjectives.
Dazed and confused, the injured boxer stumbled to his feet.
Unfortunate but true, the young man did not pass his math exam.
Note: You can also combine an adjective with a prepositional phrase.
Fraught with fear, the maimed zebra attempted to evade the hungry tiger.
3.
Prepositional phrases as sentence openers. Instead of opening a sentence with a subject, open with a
prepositional phrase. Below is a list of the most commonly used prepositions.
About
Above
Across
After
Against
Along
Among
Around
At
Before
Behind
Below
Beneath
Beside
Between
By
Down
During
Except
For
From
In
In front of
Inside
Instead of
Into
Like
Near
Of
Off
On
On top of
Onto
Out of
Outside
Over
Past
Since
Through
To
Toward
Under
Underneath
Until
Up
Upon
With
Within
Without
Note: You should use a comma following an introductory prepositional phrase of more than four words. If a
sentence opens with two prepositional phrases in a row, you must place a comma after the second phrase.
After the tasty entrée, we enjoyed a true chocolate frenzy.
After dinner we had chocolate fondue. (NO COMMA NEEDED)
In the aftermath of the storm, Ron found remnants of his beloved home.
Note: After the prepositional phrase, if you invert the subject and the verb, NO comma is needed.
In the midst of the crowded stadium cried a lost little girl.
Note: Prepositional phrases are fragments; they are either missing a subject, a verb or both. They are nonessential parts of the sentence.
4.
Appositives – An appositive is a word or group of words that means the same thing or that further explains
another noun or pronoun in the sentence.
Shelby, a true connoisseur of grammar, enjoys diagramming sentences.
In the aftermath of the storm, Ron, our neighbor, found remnants of his beloved home.
Note: To test whether or not you have correctly written an appositive, you can cover the noun that the appositive
describes and the sentence should still read clearly. You should also be able to cover the appositive, and the
sentence should read clearly.
5. Compound Sentences – composed of two independent clauses (two complete sentences) that are joined by
either a semicolon or a comma and a FANBOY (for, and, nor, but, or, yet).
Jessica’s mom had allowed her to bake a cake; the kitchen would never look the same.
Sarah had finally found happiness, but it didn’t last long.
Note: If you do not properly separate the two independent clauses, the result is a run-on sentence. If you use a
comma where it is not needed, the result is a comma splice.
6. Conjunctive Adverbs – serve as transitions between two independent clauses. A semicolon is used before
the conjunctive adverb, and a comma is used after the conjunctive adverb. The most common ones are
listed below.
Common Conjunctive Adverbs
Accordingly
Afterwards
Also
Consequently
Likewise
Moreover
Nevertheless
Nonetheless
Similarly
So*
Still
Therefore
“So” can also serve as a subordinating conjunction (to start a dependent clause).
However
Otherwise
Hector waged his house in a high stakes poker game; consequently, he is now homeless.
The Jaguars had football practice twice daily; indeed, the state championship was well deserved!
7. Adverb Clauses as sentence openers–Remember a dependent clause can’t stand alone as a sentence even
though it has a subject and a verb relationship. In the case of adverb clauses clause is identifiable
because it begins with a subordinating conjunction. This is an example of a Complex Sentence (one
dependent and one independent clause)
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
After*
Unless
Before*
Whether
Until
Though
While
Although
Because
Even though
Since
Where
As
Whereas
So that
If
*These words may also serve as prepositions in a prepositional phrase. Be on the look out for subject-verb
relationships.
Note: If the dependent clause comes first, a comma is required after the clause. If a depended clause comes last
in the sentence, no comma is required. If a dependent clause comes in between two independent clauses, a
comma must surround the dependent clause.
In the examples below, notice both the subordinating conjunction and the adverb clause.
Even though the teacher clearly explained the tardy rule, kids trudged in late on a daily basis.
Kids trudged in late on a daily basis even though the teacher clearly explained the tardy rule.
8. Colon Usage - In the English language, the colon really does on thing: it introduces. It can introduce just
about anything: a word, a phrase, a sentence, a quotation, or a list. (The two sentences you just read
correctly use a colon.)
Joe has only one thing on
Joe has only one thing on
Joe has only one thing on
Joe has only one thing on
his
his
his
his
mind: success.
mind: his college graduation.
mind: he wants to get rich.
mind: graduation, employment, and making loads of money.
Note: The portion of the sentence before the colon must be able to stand alone as a complete sentence. Also, it is
incorrect to use a colon directly after a verb.
9. Dash Usage – Dashes, when used sparingly, can add a bit of spice to your writing. You can use dashes to
serve the following four purposes:
1.
To set off an internal list
All of my favorite authors—Flake, Draper, and Tolkien—have written award-winning novels.
2. To set off an appositive of extreme importance
Katie—the once popular leader of the snob clique—now sits alone at lunch and cries.
3. To show an abrupt change of thought
The savage killer got away with murder—so he thought.
4. To set apart a summary statement
The talented Panthers defeated the Vikings—a surprise to all!
VERBALS AS SENTENCE OPENERS
10. Participial Phrases as sentence opener - A participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective and most
often ends in -ing or -ed. The term verbal indicates that a participle, like the other two kinds of verbals, is
based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, since they function as
adjectives, participles modify nouns or pronouns. There are two types of participles: present participles and
past participles. Present participles end in -ing. Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, -n, or -ne as in the
words asked, eaten, saved, dealt, seen, and gone.
Concentrating with all of his might, the power lifter bench pressed a whopping 500 pounds.
Penned in by the other runners, Jason was unable to break for the finish line.
A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a participle and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun
phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state
expressed in the participle, such as:
Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river.
11. Gerund Phrases as sentence opener-A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. The term
verbal indicates that a gerund, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses
action or a state of being. However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence
that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition.
Gerund as subject:


Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (Traveling is the gerund.)
The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (The gerund has been removed.)
A Gerund Phrase is a group of words consisting of a gerund and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun
phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state
expressed in the gerund, such as:
The gerund phrase functions as the subject of the sentence.

Finding a needle in a haystack would be easier than what we're trying to do.

Finding (gerund)
a needle (direct object of action expressed in gerund)
in a haystack (prepositional phrase as adverb)
Points to remember:



A gerund is a verbal ending in -ing that is used as a noun.
A gerund phrase consists of a gerund plus modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
Gerunds and gerund phrases virtually never require punctuation.
12. Infinitive as sentence opener- An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb (in its simplest
"stem" form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. The term verbal indicates that an infinitive, like the
other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, the
infinitive may function as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence. As a
sentence opener, it will usually be an adverb.




To
To
To
To
buy a basket of flowers, John had to spend his last dollar.
improve your writing, you must consider your purpose and audience.
think of Lady Gaga is to think of entertainment
read a book is to open the portal to imagination.
Points to remember
1. An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb; it may be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
2. An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive plus modifier(s), object(s), complement(s), and/or actor(s).
3. An infinitive phrase requires a comma only if it is used as an adverb at the beginning of a sentence.