Sentence Craft for Rhythm and Emphasis · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Shape sentences that hit

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 14-15
Name ______________________   Date ____________
  1. Read: 'The tent flapped through the night, and we lay awake listening to the storm. Dawn came.' What does the short final sentence do here?

    • It adds more detail about the noise of the storm.
    • It marks a change from the night to morning.
    • It makes the night's noise last even longer.
  2. Revise 'Nia found the ribbon beneath a chair' to give 'ribbon' the final position for emphasis. Keep the discovery and location unchanged.

    • Nia found the ribbon beneath a chair.
    • Beneath a chair, the ribbon was missing.
    • Beneath a chair, Nia found the ribbon.
  3. To vary sentence openings, you must change every repeated opening, even if the repetition gives a speech a deliberate rhythm.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Rewrite 'Lee practised daily to steady her voice' so the purpose comes first, without changing the claim.

    • To win the prize, Lee practised daily.
    • To steady her voice, Lee practised daily.
    • After her voice steadied, Lee practised daily.
  5. 'Tariq checked every seat in the empty bus while rain blurred the windows. He searched under the last seat and reached towards a shape in the dark.' Add a short sentence that reveals a lost glove and gives the search a clear ending.

    • It was his glove.
    • He had searched the bus.
    • The windows were wet.
  6. In this invented account, choose a transition that shows contrast: 'I wanted to go out. ___, I stayed home.'

    • Furthermore
    • For instance
    • However
  7. Mina carried the trays and opened the hall doors. A draft says, 'Carrying the trays, the hall doors opened for Mina.' Which revision keeps the phrase opening and makes its actor clear?

    • Carrying the trays, the hall doors opened beside Mina.
    • The trays carried Mina as she opened the hall doors.
    • Carrying the trays, Mina opened the hall doors.
  8. Revise into two sentences, each keeping a task with its original purpose: 'Jo sorted the props by scene so they were easy to pack, and she labelled each box so it was easy to find.'

    • Jo sorted the props by scene so they were easy to pack. She labelled each box so it was easy to find.
    • Jo sorted the props by scene. They were easy to pack, and she labelled each box so it was easy to find.
    • Jo sorted the props by scene so they were easy to find. She labelled each box so it was easy to pack.
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_4opgg-pdsr-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Shape sentences that hit W1-mt_4opgg-pdsr-s1

  1. It marks a change from the night to morning. · The longer sentence describes the night. 'Dawn came' stands alone and marks the move to morning.
  2. Beneath a chair, Nia found the ribbon. · 'Beneath a chair, Nia found the ribbon' keeps what Nia found and where she found it. Ending with 'ribbon' can emphasise the discovery.
  3. False · Repeated openings can serve a purpose. Keep them when their rhythm suits the speech.
  4. To steady her voice, Lee practised daily. · 'To steady her voice' states the original purpose. Moving it to the opening draws attention to the aim without adding a prize or changing the timing.
  5. It was his glove. · 'It was his glove' identifies the shape and ends the search. Its short form separates the reveal from the buildup.
  6. However · 'However' signals the contrast between wanting to go out and staying home.
  7. Carrying the trays, Mina opened the hall doors. · The opening phrase describes Mina, so Mina must be the subject that follows it. The revision also keeps her action of opening the doors.
  8. Jo sorted the props by scene so they were easy to pack. She labelled each box so it was easy to find. · Split before the labelling task. Sorting stays linked to easy packing, and labelling stays linked to easy finding.
Worksheet · LightMySky