Super Sentences

Alan Peat’s sentence types at Old Fletton

Primary School.

Embracing the challenge: improving writing

Sentence Types

• BOYS

• 2A

• Simile

• 3_ed

• 2 pairs

• De: De

• Verb, person

• O.(I.)

• If, if, if, then

• Noun

BOYS

A BOYS sentence is a two-part sentence.The first part of the sentence ends with a comma and the

latter part begins with either:BUT, OR, YET, SO

He always tried his best at school, but sometimes he could get distracted.She was really helpful, so she decided to tidy the reading area without being asked.He could be the friendliest dog in the world, or he could turn aggressive without any warning.It was a cloudy day, yet the sun shone brightly in the sky.

2A

This sentence has two adjectives which are placed before the first noun, and two adjectives which are

placed before the second noun.

It was an old, creepy house with an overgrown, unkempt garden.

The man wore an oversized, dirty rain jacket with a multi-coloured, droopy flower in the top pocket.

Simile

A simile is a sentence which creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. These sentences contain either:

...like a...OR ... as a ...

She shivered like a leaf drifting through the woods on a cool autumn evening.

She was as pretty as a picture.

3 _ed

This sentence begins with three related adjectives, all of which end in ed. Each of these words must be

followed by commas. Emotion words are mainly used to open this sentence type.

Dazed, confused, worried, he ran as fast as he could.

Excited, gobsmacked, delighted, she accepted the award.

2 Pair

This sentence begins with two pairs of related adjectives, followed by a comma.

Scared and upset, exhausted and hungry, they ran as fast as they could through the forest.

Shocked and angry, gobsmacked and bewildered, she couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her eyes.

De: De

This sentence is created by having two separate parts, which are separated by a colon.

The first part of the sentence is description: the second part is detail.

I was shattered: I hadn’t slept for more than three days. (description) : (detail)Hamsters are nocturnal: they sleep during the daytime.

(description) : (detail)

Verb,Person

With this sentence type, begin the sentence with the verb (doing word). This should always be followed with a comma

then the chosen name of a person (or he, she, they ,it).

Running, she seemed to have been running for ever.

Creaking, he knew there was something creaking behind him.

Sailing, James had always been petrified of it.

O.(I.)Outside. (Inside.)

These sentences are made up of two related sentences. The first sentence shows how the character behaves on the outside. The second sentence lets the reader know how the character is actually feeling on the

inside.

She smiled and gave the small girl a present. (Inside, however, she was shaking with rage.)

If,if,if,then

If I had remembered to set the alarm, if the cat hadn’t knocked my cereal onto the floor, if the car would

have started, then I wouldn’t have been late for work.

If it hadn’t been snowing, if the wind would have stopped blowing, if the sun had been shining, then the

wedding would not have been ruined.

Noun (which, who, where)

This sentence always begins with a noun which is followed by a comma, followed by the ending of the

sentence.

Tom, who practiced football every day, dreamed of playing for Manchester United.

Peterborough, which is a city, has a stunning cathedral.

The playground, where the children enjoy playing, has lots of wonderful equipment.

This sentence begins with three negative adjectives. The first and second adjectives are followed by commas. The third is followed by a dash, then a question which relates to the negative adjectives.

Fed up, sad, depressed - would he ever feel happy again?

Terrified, anxious, perplexed - how would she ever escape?

3 bad - (dash) question

Emotion word, (comma)

This sentence is constructed by using an adjective which describes an emotion, followed by a comma.

Terrified, he sat rocking with his head in his hands.

Desperate, she ran as fast as she could through the forest.

Furious, the man raised his voice and told the boy to go away.

Many Questions

This sentence type usually begins with a question beginning with either:

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? or What if?

This is then followed by further phrases.

What are these plants? trees? flowers? animals?

How did you feel? last night? this afternoon? now?

Double ly ending

The first part of this sentence ends with a verb, followed by two adverbs (words that describe the

verb).

The competitive girl ran quickly and determinedly.

This sentence can be extended by giving an explanation that begins with because or as.

The competitive girl ran quickly and determinedly as she knew she had to win the race.

Ad, same ad

This sentence contains two adjectives which are the same, one repeated shortly after the other.

He was a caring man, caring because he looked after all the stray animals.

It was a busy city, busy in a way that made you feel exhausted.

All the W’s

These sentences are short sentences. They begin with:Who? What? Where? Why? When? Would? Was?

Will? What if?

Who was he?What if the young boy was never found?Was this really the end?Why do we have seasons?

LIST

There are two ways of constructing this sentence type.

The first contains three adjectives before the noun. Each adjective is separated by a comma.Three adjectivesIt was a beautiful, glorious, sunny, day.

The second contains four adjectives before the noun. Each adjective is separated by a comma, however the word and is placed between the final two adjectives.Four adjectives The man wore a long, ripped, oversized and dirty cloak.

Some; others

The first part of this sentence begins with the word some. The second part of the sentence is separated

with a semi colon and the word others.

Some children walk to school; others travel by car.

Some countries have a warm climate; others do not.

Some children love to wear a school uniform; others simply detest it.

P.C.This sentence type requires specific pairs of conjunctions.

These include:(B A) - both/and(N A) - not so/as

(N N) - neither/nor(A A) - as/as

It was both hot and sunny in the desert.

It was not so much the fame as the fortune that he craved.

Neither friends nor family would ever make her happy.

The man was as tall as a skyscraper.

The more, the more

The first more in this sentence is followed by an emotion, the second more is followed by a related

action. A comma separates the two parts of this sentence.

The more annoyed she became, the more she stamped her feet on the floor.

The more anxious he became, the more his hands began to shake.

The more relaxed she was, the more she laughed.