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Sentence Openers: Varying How Sentences Begin — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 6 sentences & clauses worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 6 · English · Sentences & Clauses

Sentence Openers: Varying How Sentences Begin — Answers

Part A: Why vary openers?

1.Starting every sentence with I or Then can make writing sound repetitive.

Answer: True

Different openers keep the reader interested.

2.When a sentence starts with a phrase such as After lunch, we usually put a comma after it.

Answer: True

After lunch, we played outside.

3.Moving a phrase to the start of a sentence changes what the sentence means.

Answer: False

The meaning stays the same; only the focus changes.

4.A sentence can start with a clause such as When the bell rang.

Answer: True

When the bell rang, everyone lined up.

Part B: Name the opener

Circle the type of opener used in each sentence.

5.Quietly, the cat crept up to the bird.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: adverb

Quietly is an adverb telling how.

6.Before breakfast, we took the dog for a walk.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: time phrase

Before breakfast tells when.

7.Under the old bridge, a troll was sleeping.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: place phrase

Under the old bridge tells where.

8.Laughing loudly, the children ran into the classroom.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: -ing phrase

Laughing loudly starts with an -ing verb.

9.Luckily, nobody was hurt.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: adverb

Luckily is an adverb.

10.At midnight, the clock chimed twelve times.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: time phrase

At midnight tells when.

11.Behind the curtain, a small kitten was hiding.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: place phrase

Behind the curtain tells where.

12.Holding her breath, Zara jumped into the pool.
  1. Aadverb
  2. Btime phrase
  3. Cplace phrase
  4. D-ing phrase

Answer: -ing phrase

Holding her breath starts with an -ing verb.

Part C: Move it to the front

Rewrite each sentence so that it starts with the phrase, clause or adverb at the end. Put a comma after the opener.

13.The rain began to fall after a few minutes.

Answer: After a few minutes, the rain began to fall.

14.We found a tiny shell on the sand.

Answer: On the sand, we found a tiny shell.

15.The fox crept slowly out of its den.

Answer: Slowly, the fox crept out of its den.

  1. The adverb slowly moves to the front, followed by a comma.
16.Ben forgot his lunch because he was in a rush.

Answer: Because he was in a rush, Ben forgot his lunch.

17.The firefighters raced to the fire as soon as the alarm rang.

Answer: As soon as the alarm rang, the firefighters raced to the fire.

Part D: Your turn

I woke up early. I ate my breakfast. I packed my bag. I walked to the bus stop. I saw my friend Kai.

18.Your turn: rewrite this paragraph so that no two sentences start the same way. Use at least three different types of opener.

Model answer: Yawning, I woke up early. After a quick shower, I ate my breakfast. Carefully, I packed my bag. Once I was ready, I walked to the bus stop. At the corner, I saw my friend Kai.

Success criteria:

  • No two sentences start with the same word
  • At least three different types of opener
  • Comma after each opening phrase or clause
  • Meaning of the paragraph kept
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