English

Practical English Grammar


what good writers do


Good writers utilize effective sentence starters to interest their readers. You can do the same.
By using different starters, you use variety, a trait of strong writing.
Here are seven ways to start your sentences.

1 Gerund or gerund phrase

Learning was crucial for the new student. (gerund)
Finishing his art project on time brought Andy great relief.
(gerund phrase)

2 Participle or participial phrase

Smiling, Mom welcomed her guests into our house. (participle)
Jumping from the side of the pool, the young boy was enjoying himself.
(participial phrase)

3 Infinitive or infinitive phrase

To laugh is good for your health. (infinitive)
To win the trophy was the boater’s goal. (infinitive phrase)

4 Prepositional phrase

In the evening, Shirley and her friends play bridge. (prepositional phrase)
After an hour the cat felt better. (prepositional phrase)
5 Adverb

Slowly, the children exited the school bus. (adverb)
Intelligently, these scientists debated the heated topic. (adverb)

6 Adverb clause

Because the weather will be good for surfing, we plan on hitting the beach
tomorrow. (adverb clause)
Although the doctor will not be in this evening, her assistant can see you.
(adverb clause)

7 Adjective

Awed, the circus attendees watched the trapeze artist in action. (adjective)
Bright and curious, the scholarship students performed their experiments.
(two adjectives)

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Notes


Practical English Grammar - Notes
1. Italics Hyphens and Brackets
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2. Quotation Marks Part Three
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3. compound subjects part two
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4. the adverb
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5. Using Capital Letters
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6. the adjective clause
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7. the indirect object
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8. the pronoun
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9. The Apostrophe
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10. the appositive
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11. the correlative conjunction
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12. The possessive case
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13. what good writers do
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14. Sound a like words Part Four
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15. The Colon
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16. the adjective
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17. The verb be
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18. the noun clause
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19. the direct object
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20. The Semicolon
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21. complete and simple subjects
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22. Confusing usage words part six
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23. Confusing usage words part three
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24. the subordinating conjunction
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25. the verb
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26. irregular verbs part two
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27. Commas Part Five
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28. Quotation Marks Part Two
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29. agreement involving prepositional phrases
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30. More Apostrophe Situations
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31. complex sentences
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32. The possessive case and pronouns
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33. Commas Part Four
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34. the prepositional phrase
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35. Confusing usage words part one
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36. Commas Part One
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37. the preposition
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38. complete and simple predicates
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39. Indefinite pronouns and the possessive case
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40. Sound a like words Part Three
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41. Regular Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
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42. Commas Part Three
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43. Parentheses Ellipsis Marks and Dashes
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44. agreement between indefinite pronouns and their antecedents
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45. compound complex sentences
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46. compound subject and compound predicate
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47. the infinitive and infinitive phrase
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48. Misplaced and dangling modifiers
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49. Sound a like words Part Two
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50. Irregular Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
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