Sentence building blocks
Sentences can come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Take a look at the sentences
below and see if you can spot what is being added each time. Highlight the extra bits
and say what kind of language component it is e.g verb, adjective, adverb etc.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 3/4
Level 4/5
The squirrel ran.
The fluffy, brown squirrel ran.
The fluffy, brown squirrel ran hastily.
The fluffy, brown squirrel ran hastily up the tree.
The fluffy, brown squirrel, carrying a nut in it’s mouth, ran hastily up the tree,.
(Remember, these levels are only true if ALL the punctuation is correct)
Use the same method to build up some fabulous, descriptive sentences below.
Add a verb
The man
Add 2 adjectives
Add an adverb
Add an adverbial phrase
Add an embedded clause
Add a verb
My mum
Add 2 adjectives
Add an adverb
Add an adverbial phrase
Add an embedded clause
Add a verb
Billy
Add 2 adjectives
Add an adverb
Add an adverbial phrase
Add an embedded clause
Add a verb
The shark
Add 2 adjectives
Add an adverb
Add an adverbial phrase
Add an embedded clause
A good level 5 writer doesn’t always start a sentence with the subject, but they might
start with the subordinate clause.
The fluffy, brown squirrel ran hastily up the tree, carrying a nut in it’s mouth.
Carrying a nut in it’s mouth, the fluffy , brown squirrel ran hastily up the tree.
Can you look at some of your longer sentences and try to rearrange them so that the
subject of your sentence isn’t always at the start of the sentence.
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