Tips for Tutors
(Focusing on Sentence Building)
Teach the Basic Rules and then Expand
Teach your students the basic rule of sentences, explaining that every sentence must
have a subject and a verb. If it does not, it is not a complete sentence.
Model complete sentences for your student first and then have them write one
independently. Example: I ate a pie.
Then ask your student to expand the sentence: Example: I ate the delicious lemon pie
last night at dinner.
Talk it - Write it - Check it
Encourage students to always try saying what they want to write before actually putting
pen to paper. It is generally much easier to hear when something doesn't sound right
than it is to see errors in writing. It is also important to get into the habit of checking
what they have written as soon as they have written it.
Cut-up Sentence
On a strip of paper, cut-up and scramble the words of a complete sentence using the
parts of speech the student is familiar with. Have him/her unscramble the words and
write the sentence correctly on a separate sheet of paper.
Brainstorming
Write a main idea question on a whiteboard or paper such as "What do you know
about cats?" Say “Before we can write about a topic we need to brainstorm about it.”
The students may list: has claws, meows, are sneaky, etc. Afterwards, ask your
student to write sentences using the words that they have generated.
Write Compound Sentences
Show your student some compound sentences. A compound sentence consists of two
independent clauses joined by a coordinator. This coordinator may either be a
coordinating conjunction (e.g. and, but, or, for, yet, so), a conjunctive adverb (e.g.
therefore, however, moreover, furthermore, nevertheless), or a semicolon. For
example:
I like reading books, but my friend likes painting.
I like reading books; however, my friend likes painting.
I like reading books; my friend likes painting.
After showing them the examples, have your student generate with your assistance
some additional compound sentences.
Write Complex Sentences
Follow the same procedures as above with complex sentences. A complex sentence
consists of an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. The
dependent clause is always headed by a subordinating conjunction (e.g. because,
although, since, if, though) or a relative pronoun (e.g. who, which, that). For example:
Although I like reading books, my friend likes painting.
It is my friend who likes painting.
I love dogs, because they are so friendly.
Source: Word-Mart.com
**Some sentence building worksheets follow.
Rearrange the words to make a correct sentence.
1. man is The thin.
2. eyes The has blue girl.
3. has beard man a The.
4. woman has nose The small a.
5. big ears boy The has.
6. The is young girl.
7. has hair black The man.
8. fat is The boy.
9. has The short woman hair.
10. is tall girl The.
Sentence Builder
Use one word from each box to make as many sentences as you can!
I
are
can
we
am
can
you
will
very
all
really
maybe
run
old
Jump
big
1. ____________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________
GRAMMAR:
Choose the correct answer:1. Allen___________in Ohio.
a. live
b. living
c. lives
2. Maria_______________watching TV.
a. doesn't like
b. not liking
c. don't like
3. Do you like playing computer games?
a. Yes, I doesn't
b. Yes, I do
c. Yes, I does.
4. They _____ listening to music.
a. are
b. isn't
c. is
5. She is _______ the internet.
a. use
b. used
c. using
writing : write sentences
He ………….…………………..………………………
They……………………….………………
Saul ..........................…………….