There are a number of ways one can create more creative, more engaging sentences. Six easy patters to begin with are:

1. Two-adjective beginnings
   • Tall, handsome lifeguards flirt wildly with the pretty girls.
   • Rickety and dilapidated, the old schoolhouse didn’t stand a chance in an earthquake.
2. “-ing” at beginning or end
   • Running like the wind, Forrest Gump made national headline news.
   • Saving the best for last, Lisa finally ate her Reese’s peanut butter cup.
   • He trudged along the hot desert for days, wishing he had brought more water.
   • Sandy gave the homeless man all the money she had, hoping that her small act of kindness might bring him some comfort.
3. “-ly” beginnings
   • Cheerfully, she answered the phone for her mother.
   • Slowly opening the door, the servant tried not to wake his master.
4. Informative interrupters (appositives)
   • The fish, a slimy mass of flesh, felt the alligator’s giant teeth sink into him as he struggled to swim away.
   • The child, face covered with chocolate doughnut, asked his mother if he could have some milk.
5. Balanced sentences
   • He runs onto the baseball field, spins around second base, and looks back at the academy.
   • Choosing a Christmas tree, putting up Christmas lights, and baking Christmas cookies are all included in my December traditions.
6. Dependent clauses
   • Because it rained, the garden party was postponed.
   • Since the road construction is complete, Jim can make it home in only ten minutes.

This information is from a PowerPoint Presentation from the Greenville County Schools Curriculum Portal. This is provided merely for notes for students. An additional aid is available here.