• (65) 9646 0930

[email protected]

logo

Primary English Tips | Creative Writing: Sentence Starters

  • Posted By Lil' but Mighty

Hi all! I think it will be timely to discuss a way for children to improve on the language component of their composition writing , in particular, having variety in sentence structure. Having descriptive phrases and rich vocabulary is important but constructing interesting sentences is vital in achieving a good score for language too.

One way to construct sentences with variety is to use different ways to start a sentence. Here are 5 sentence starters to add variety to your writing.

Ways to start a sentence

1) start a sentence with a noun(subject/ object).

The little boy/ He/ David   kissed his mother goodbye quickly before going to school. Mother   was kissed by David before he left for school.

A quick recapitulation on what a Subject and an Object of a sentence are.  Subject is the doer of an action  while the  Object is the receiver of an action . This is the most common way children start their sentence as they will be inclined to list down details of what was done by the characters or done to the characters. What they end up with are numerous sentences beginning with nouns and pronouns. Yawn.

Take a look at your child’s composition. If he/she has sentences which start this way all the time, it is time to read on.

2) Start a sentence with Adverbs

Quickly , David kissed his mother goodbye before going to school. Tearfully , Jan apologised for her mistake.

Adverbs are words that describe verbs (action words). Examples are adverbs are anxiously, immediately, playfully. As children may find adverbs familiar and easier to grasp, this is a good way to begin injecting variety to your child’s sentences.

3) Start a sentence with an adverbial phrase (time, manner, place)

Time:  Before going to school , David kissed his mother goodbye quickly. Manner:  All of a sudden ,  a child dashed across the road. Place:  In the pouring rain , the boy shivered as he walked home without an umbrella.

Like an adverb, an adverbial phase describes the action. Have your child think about the  when, how and where of the sentence  and they will find it easier to introduce this sentence structure to their compositions.

4) Start a sentence with a continuous verb phrase (continuous action)

Kissing   his mother goodbye quickly , David left for school. Shivering (from the cold) , the boy walked home without an umbrella in the pouring rain. Realising her mistake,  Jan apologised tearfully.

A continuous verb are verbs in the -ing form  e.g.  Running, singing, clapping . Instead of listing down what the characters are doing plainly, try beginning with the action being done by the character first.

5) Start a sentence with a past participle verb phrase

Shocked by what he saw , James screamed. Soaked by the rain , the boy shivered as he walked home without an umbrella. Filled with anger,  Mary decided to confront her friend.

A tip for using this way to start a sentence is to  think about emotions  such as  shocked, angered and worried.  This not only varies your sentences but also helps to add in descriptions of emotions to your characters.

How can I apply this with my child? 

A paragraph like the following is very common for a child who does not have variety in the way he/she begins a sentence:

5 Sentence Starters

This paragraph has some interesting vocabulary used but it can definitely be improved with some variety in the way the sentences begin. All the sentences begin with a noun or pronoun. Compare it with the paragraph below that is rewritten using different sentence starters.

5 Sentence Starters

The Write Recipe

  • Learn about how to plan your writing
  • Know the key ingredients to create exciting content during planning
  • See the flow of your story with our unique paragraph-by-paragraph structure (New!)
  • Application to questions with the PSLE format

Write Recipe

  • Find out more!

Have something to share? Drop us a comment below!

Leave a reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Other related posts

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog Haiku 1

Creative Writing | 3 Easy Steps to Write Your Own Haiku!

  • Creative Writing & Compo

Verbs: More than Just Action Words! | Part 3: Changes in Verb Forms

Ketchup on english – is, are, was and were.

  • Grammar , Lower Primary

Audience In Visual Text | Visual Text Comprehension

  • Visual Text Comprehension

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog CreativeWriting 5 1 1

Exploring Points of View (POV) in Composition Writing

Metaphors for | part ii – implied metaphors.

LilbutMightyBlog Oral 1

10 Beautiful Vivid Verbs to Boost Your Writing and Oral! | Primary School English

  • Creative Writing & Compo , Oral

Metaphors For? | Part I – An Introduction to Metaphors

Untitled 1

3 Family-Friendly Shows on Netflix (Educational & Entertaining)!

  • English in the real world

dummy blog

Verbs: More than Just Action Words! | Part 2: Tenses

2021 father’s day contest winners.

  • Company News

Verbs: More than Just Action Words! | Part 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog 1

10 Beautiful Words You Can Use in Narrative / Descriptive Writing | Secondary School

  • Secondary School English

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog CreativeWriting 1 1

Ways To Create A Well-Rounded Character | Creative Writing

Understanding purpose-related questions in visual text comprehension.

banner blog 1 1

How Playing Video Games Can Improve Our English (With Practical Tips for Parents!)

LilbutMightyEnglish CreativeWriting copy 1

Primary School Composition | Onomatopoeia – What’s That?

2021 mother’s day contest winners + our founder’s journey (mother’s day special).

banner blog 2

Composition Revision: Using Your 5 Senses in Your Writing

How to create a dynamic piece of writing using idioms, ketchup on english – subject-verb agreement, punctuation marks: colon vs. semicolon.

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog CreativeWritingComposition 1

4 steps to Create Suspense

banner blog 3

Earth Hour – Oral Topic

That simile though 2 | using stronger similes.

english creative writing sentence starters

How to Avoid Plot Holes in Your Story!

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog PSLEOral2021 1

PSLE ORAL | Compiled Prelim 2021 Oral Topics + Questions!

  • Free Downloads , Oral

free q 13

5 Steps to Convert a Newspaper Article into a Cloze Passage

  • Cloze Passage and Editing , Free Downloads , Primary School English

free q 12

PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Free SG50 Sample Practice + Model Answers

  • Free Downloads , Oral , Primary School English

free q 11

PSLE English | Oral Conversation: Filling your Story with Details Easily + Free Revision Cards

english creative writing sentence starters

PSLE English | Situational Writing: Q&A + Formal vs Informal Writing Comparison Chart

  • Free Downloads , Primary School English , Situational Writing

free q 09

PSLE English Tips | Oral: Stimulus-Based Conversation Checklist

free q 08

A Little Encouragement | DIY Motivational Bookmark (Easy to personalise too!)

  • English in the real world , Free Downloads , Reading

free q 07

Situational Writing: Step-by-Step Guide + Free Revision Card

free q 06

I Love Reading | 5 Ways to Motivate Reluctant Readers

  • English in the real world , Free Downloads

free q 05

PSLE English | Printable Ultimate Grammar & Synthesis Summary

  • Free Downloads , Grammar , Sentence Synthesis

free q 04

How Well Do You Know Your Past Participles?

  • Free Downloads , Grammar

free q 03

Primary Composition Writing | Starting Sentences with Introductory Clauses

  • Creative Writing & Compo , Free Downloads

free q 01

The Sentence Train | Lower Primary English

free q 14

PSLE English Tips | Oral: Reading Checklist

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog Vocabulary 1

Language of COVID | 10 Words Added to the Dictionary

  • English in the real world , Vocabulary

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog CreativeWriting 1

Using Personification to Show, Not Tell!

  • Creative Writing & Compo , Primary School English

Expressing Character Feelings Too! | Using Show-Not-Tell (Part 2)

How to choose a book to read: 8 ways.

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog CreativeWriting 2 1

How to Dress Up A Boring Paragraph | Creative Writing

Ketchup on english – halloween special: prepositions of time.

  • Lower Primary

Ketchup on English! – Verbs Are Not Just Action Words!

LilbutMightyEnglishBlog CreativeWriting 8 1

Expressing Character Feelings | Using Show-Not-Tell

Which picture should i use | choosing the best picture to use for composition.

thumbnail longvowels

Oral: Reading Passage | Long Vowels – Have You Been Reading Your Vowels Correctly?

Like what you are reading.

Subscribe now to receive news and tips hot off the press!

shape icon 06

The greatest joy in giving small group tuition is a teacher’s ability to create greater impact in the children that have been entrusted to her care.

Our Programmes

  • Primary English
  • Secondary English
  • Self-Paced Online Courses
  • School Clients
  • Copyright Terms & Conditions
  • Personal Data Protection Policy
  • Registration Terms & Conditions
  • Contest Terms & Conditions

Lil’ but Mighty Clementi Block 432 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-282, Singapore 120432

Lil’ but Mighty Bukit Timah Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, 170 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #B2-02, Singapore 588179

Lil’ but Mighty Hougang Block 211 Hougang Street 21, #01-305  (Rear Entrance) , Singapore 530211

Lil’ but Mighty Novena Goldhill Plaza, 51 Goldhill Plaza, #02-25, Singapore 308899

Lil’ but Mighty Marine Parade Parkway Centre, 1 Marine Parade Central, #04-05, Singapore 449408

Lil’ but Mighty Tampines (Coming in Nov 2023) Tampines Plaza 1, 3 Tampines Central 1, Singapore 529540

Douglas Wise

Douglas Wise

English Teaching Resources

english creative writing sentence starters

Sentence Stems for Creative Writing | KS4 Teaching Resource

Download now >> Sentence Stems for Creative Writing

english creative writing sentence starters

Click here   to access a sheet containing nine different sentence stems to help students craft their writing.  It should work well for lessons on Q5 from the GCSE English Language (P1) exam.

[email protected]

Find 80+ teaching resources for KS4 here .

Search all of Doug’s resources here:

If you use the site regularly, it’d be great if you could make a small donation to help pay for the running of it. Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

  • ← Booklet from researchED Brum
  • One-Pagers on the Context of Macbeth | KS4 Teaching Resource →

It's your choice

Privacy overview.

IMAGES

  1. Essay Writing Starters

    english creative writing sentence starters

  2. Pin on new student

    english creative writing sentence starters

  3. Creative Sentence Starters (Free Printable)

    english creative writing sentence starters

  4. 51 Great Sentence Starters for Creative Writing

    english creative writing sentence starters

  5. Pin on TOEFL

    english creative writing sentence starters

  6. Persuasive Sentence Starters. #FSA writebrightstation.com

    english creative writing sentence starters

VIDEO

  1. How To Make English Sentences

  2. English Creative Writing Phrases to Use #study #student #revishaan #english #shorts #gcse #alevel

  3. Sentences Starts in English #Shorts #English_Grammar #English_Writing

  4. useful sentence #learningenglish

  5. short important easy sentence vocabulary

  6. sentence #making # English learning by primary students

COMMENTS

  1. What Are Some Good Sentence Starters?

    Good sentence starters are specific to an intended purpose. Sentence starters are used to list additional ideas within the body of text. Examples include, “Another essential point,” “In the same way,” “Equally important,” “Then again,” “To ...

  2. Step-by-Step Approach to Correcting Sentences in English

    Are you struggling with sentence structure and grammar in the English language? Do you often find yourself wondering if your sentences are correctly constructed? If so, you’re not alone. Many individuals face challenges when it comes to wri...

  3. Step-by-Step Approach to Correcting Your English Writing Errors

    Writing in English can be challenging, especially if it is not your first language. It’s common to make errors in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. However, with a step-by-step approach, you can improve your English writing skil...

  4. 50 Exciting Sentence Starters for Writing Stories

    ... starters guaranteed to get the creative juices flowing! Perfect for use ... If you like these English story starters and would like some more

  5. 51 Super Story Starter Sentences

    Hopefully, these ideas will give you the inspiration you need to get started on your next creative writing project. Story Writing Sentence

  6. 50 Exciting Story Starter Sentences

    Story Starter Sentences · Jack hadn't meant for it to happen... · The wind swirled around me and the world went black... · At first, I couldn't understand why I

  7. 5 Sentence Starters that Add Variety to Your Writing

    Primary English Tips | Creative Writing: Sentence Starters · Ways to start a sentence · 1) Start a sentence with a noun(Subject/ Object) · 2) Start a sentence with

  8. Use These Sentence Starter Tips to Strengthen Your Writing

    Sentence starters are the words you use to start off a sentence. Here's how to start stronger sentences for every part of an essay.

  9. The Story Starter Shed

    Story starters · I didn't mean to kill her. · The air turned black all around me. · Icy fingers gripped my arm in the darkness. · Wandering through the graveyard it

  10. 99 Starter Sentences for Writing Stories

    99 Starter Sentences for Writing Stories · 1. The summer breeze brushed past my sundress as I walked down the lane. · 2. The professor always made

  11. Story Starters and Writing Prompts for Creative Writing

    Story Starters that Include the First Sentence · As the door creaked open, I saw something that I thought I would never see again. · As I was

  12. Sentence Stems for Creative Writing

    ... sentence stems to help students craft their writing. It should work well for lessons on Q5 from the GCSE English Language (P1) exam. Doug.

  13. Sentence variety

    I opened my eyes to the warmth of the sun that was beaming through the window. Turning towards it, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. Moments later I got

  14. Sentence Starters

    In this video, you will learn 7 creative ways to teach your students how to start their sentences. Students can use these scaffolded