Improving sentences

Learning objective:I can make my writing more

sophisticated by using extended sentences.

Improving Sentences

Grammar Week

Key wordsSubordinator - linking words that join clauses

Subordinate clause – adds to/explains another clause (sentence) but doesn’t make sense on its own.

Types of sentenceSimple -  contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete

thought. Eg: Some  students  like  to study in the mornings. (subject) (verb)

Compound – two separate clauses brought together by a connectiveEg: Alejandro  played  football, so  Maria   went  shopping. (subject) (verb) (connective) (subject) (verb)

Complex - has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses; always has a subordinator

Eg: After  they finished studying, Juan and Maria went to the cinema. (subordinator) (verb) (comma) (subject) (verb)

How to improve your sentencesStarting sentence: The monkey ran

Let’s describe HOW the monkey ran by adding an _____________.

‘ing’ or ‘ed’ verbStartled, the monkey ran

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: Startled, the monkey ran

Let’s describe the monkey itself by adding an _________.

adjectiveStartled, the tiny monkey ran

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: Startled, the tiny monkey ran

Let’s describe why the tiny monkey ran.

Startled by the parrot, the tiny monkey ran

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: Startled by the parrot, the tiny monkey ran

Let’s describe when the tiny monkey ran.

When it was startled by the parrot, the tiny monkey ran

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: When it was startled by the parrot, the tiny monkey ran.

Let’s describe the parrot.

When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, the tiny monkey ran

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, the tiny monkey ran .

Let’s extend the sentence with a semi-colon and question.

When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, the tiny monkey ran off into the forest; is it lost?

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, the tiny monkey ran off into the forest; is it lost?

Let’s add a subordinate clause to give more information.

When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, which was perched on a tree, the tiny monkey ran off into the forest; is it lost?

How to improve your sentences

Starting sentence: When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, the tiny monkey ran off into the forest; is it lost?

Let’s add an adverb to complete the final sentence.

When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, which was perched on a tree, the tiny monkey ran off quickly into the forest; is it lost?

How to improve your sentences

Final sentence: When it was startled by the brightly-coloured parrot, which was perched on a tree, the tiny monkey ran off quickly into the forest; is it lost?

So we have added: verb, adjective, cause, time, semi-colon, question, subordinate clause.

Now we have a complex sentence (that does not run on!) with lots of detail.

Your turnStarting sentence: A leaf fellAdd: describe when_____________ , a leaf fell

Add: adjective (1)___(When)____, a _______ leaf fell 

Add: ‘ing’ or ‘ed’ verb____(When)____, , a __(adjective)__ leaf _______ (replace fell with a more descriptive word) 

Add: describe where____(When)____, , a __(adjective)__ leaf ___(drifted/grazed/fliuttered) ___(where)____ 

Add: subordinate clause____(When)____, _______(subordinate clause)_____ , a __(adjective)__ leaf ___(drifted/grazed/fliuttered) ___(where)____ 

Add: adjective (2)____(When)____, _______(subordinate clause)_____ , a __(adjective)__ leaf ___(drifted/grazed/fliuttered) (adjective 2) ___(where)____ 

Add: describe why____(When)____, _______(subordinate clause)_____ , a __(adjective)__ leaf ___(drifted/grazed/fliuttered) (adjective 2) ___(where)____because ____________________________________. 

Add: a semi-colon and question at the end____(When)____, _______(subordinate clause)_____ , a __(adjective)__ leaf ___(drifted/grazed/fliuttered) (adjective 2) ___(where)____

because ______________________________________; ___(question)____ 

Add: Adverb____(When)____, _______(subordinate clause)_____ , a __(adjective)__ leaf __ (adverb) _(drifted/grazed/fliuttered) (adjective 2) ___(where)____ because ______________________________________; ___(question)____ 

Your turnStarting sentence: A leaf fell

Final sentence: Yesterday, in the woods, a golden leaf drifted silently to the muddy ground because it was windy; how many more will fall?

PlenaryWrite a detailed, descriptive sentence about this picture.

Try to make it at least 20 words long