What are sentence openers?

Sentence openers are the first words or phrases in a sentence that grab the reader's attention and set the tone for what follows. Using different sentence openers helps make writing more interesting and varied.

Ways to start a sentence:

Adverbial Openers:

These openers start with an adverb (a word that describes how something is done), e.g.:

• Quickly, she ran to the bus stop.          
• Suddenly, the lights went out.          
• Carefully, he placed the fragile vase on the shelf.

Prepositional Openers:

These begin with a preposition (a word showing a relationship between a noun and other words), e.g.:

• In the distance, a ship appeared on the horizon.          
• Under the table, the cat slept soundly.          
• Beside the river, they found a quiet spot to relax.

Conjunction Openers:

Start with a conjunction, joining ideas together, e.g.:

• Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.          
• Because she was tired, she went to bed early.          
• While they were waiting, they played a game.

Adjective Openers:

Start with an adjective, describing a noun.

• Beautiful flowers bloomed in the garden.
• Quiet and peaceful, the valley was a perfect retreat.
• Cold winds blew through the streets.

'Ing' Openers:

Begin with a verb ending in “-ing” to show what is happening, e.g.:

• Running fast, he caught up with his friend.
• Eating his lunch, he sat by the window.
• Laughing loudly, the children played in the park.

Simile Openers:

Begin with a simile (a phrase which describes something by comparing it to something else, using ‘like' or ‘as'), e.g.:

• Shaking like a leaf, he backed away from the tiger.
• As quiet as a mouse, she crept down the stairs.
• As graceful as a swan, pirouetted across the stage.

Using a range of different sentence openers helps make writing more interesting, clearer, and more effective. It enhances the overall quality of the work, allowing the writer to communicate with the reader in a more engaging and thoughtful way.