The Writers Toolkit
Wonderful writers use a range of sentences…
Fronted adverbials:
How
when
where
Expanded noun
phrases
(with, who)
Coordinating
conjunctions
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Dialogue
Commas in a list
Always at the front of a sentenceComma after the fronted adverbial
(where- preposition) Under the ancient oak tree, she stood waiting.
(how) Patiently, she stood waiting under the ancient oak tree.
(when- time connective) All night long, she stood waiting under the
ancient oak tree.
Tell me more about the noun using; who with
The teacher with a stern look on her face told the class to sit down!
The teacher, who was extremely pleased with the classes work, gave
them an extra playtime!
Joins two sentences together- instead of a full stop
Comma before the coordinating conjunction
The teacher was pleased with the children, so she gave them an
extra play time.
The teacher promised to give the children an extra playtime, for
they had worked hard.
The children wanted to play outside, but/ yet it was raining.
When someone speaksComma to separate the speech and who is speaking (reporting
clause)
“It’s dark tonight,” James said. “We should be careful.”
James said, “It’s dark tonight. We should be careful.”
Commas to separate items in a list. When there are 3 or more
items, use ‘and’ or ‘or’ instead of a comma between the last 2 items.
The dim, damp forest stood deserted.
The monster was obnoxious, repulsive and vile.
I didn’t know if to laugh, cry or scream!
Subordinate clause: Starts with a subordinating conjunction- Doesn’t make sense on its
own, needs a main clause. Can go at the front or end!
Comma after the subordinate clause if it’s at the front.
when, while,
before, after,
although,
While the teacher wrote on the board, the naughty class pulled
faces behind her back!
even though,
as, whenever, if, The naughty class pulled faces behind her back while the teacher
since
wrote on the board.
Although it was raining, the class still went out to play.
The class still went out to play although it was raining.
Always at the front of a sentenceComma after the –ed. –ing, To- starter
-ed
–ing
To-
Glowing, the pale moon drifted behind a cloud.
Exhausted, she slumped into the old, familiar armchair.
Glowing softly, the pale moon drifted behind a cloud.
Exhausted by the journey, she slumped into the old, familiar
armchair.
Embedded clause
Gives us extra information using ( ) , , - - who, which, with, that
e.g.
The teacher (with golden blonde hair) taught in year 4.
The teacher, with golden blonde hair, taught in year 4.
The teacher- with golden blonde hair- taught in year 4.
Simile and
metaphors
Simile = like as
The snowflake twirled like a ballerina
The snowflake was as graceful as a ballerina
Metaphor= is
The snowflake is a ballerina dancing out of the sky