Free printable📝 Word Lists · Sentences

100 Sentence Starters for Kids

Age
4–6, 7–9, 10–12
Time
10 minutes
Difficulty
⭐⭐
Skills
sentence structure · fronted adverbials
Learning objective
By the end, your child can open sentences in different ways, including using a fronted adverbial with a comma.

One of the fastest ways to improve writing is to vary how sentences begin. When every sentence starts with “I” or “The”, even great ideas read flat.

These starters help children open sentences in different ways — including fronted adverbials, a key KS2 skill.

How to use this

  • Challenge your child to start three sentences in three different ways.
  • Remember the comma after a fronted adverbial: “Suddenly, the lights went out.”

Time openers (fronted adverbials)

Suddenly,
After a while,
Later that night,
Just then,
As the sun set,
Without warning,

Place openers

Deep in the forest,
High above the city,
Behind the old door,
Far across the sea,
In the shadows,

Feeling / action openers

Nervously,
Racing ahead,
Trembling,
Without a second thought,
Holding her breath,

Connectives to develop ideas

However,
As a result,
Although
Meanwhile,
On the other hand,
Because of this,

I opened the box. I saw a light. I was scared.

Nervously, I opened the box. Inside, a strange light glowed. Without warning, it began to hum.

💡 Varied openers make the same events gripping.

Mission 1🔀 Three Ways to Start

Take this dull sentence and rewrite it three times, each time starting a different way (use the lists above).

  • The dog ran out of the house.
⭐Start with a time opener (e.g. “Suddenly, …”).
⭐⭐Start with a feeling/action opener (e.g. “Terrified, …”).
⭐⭐⭐Start with a place opener and add detail.

💡 Don't forget the comma after a fronted adverbial.

Success checklist

  • ✅ I can start my sentences in different ways.
  • ✅ I can use a fronted adverbial with a comma.

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Related free resources

🖨️ Worksheets

Year 4 Fronted Adverbials Worksheet | Free Printable

A free printable Year 4 fronted adverbials worksheet: a fun step-by-step mission from spotting them and adding the comma to writing your own for time, place and manner. With answers.

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