Varying Sentence Beginnings

CWP / M.Wald
Beginnings of sentences enhance sentence rhythm and sentence-to-sentence cohesion.
Superior writing can be achieved by using not merely subjects, but single word adjectives or
adverbs, prepositional phrases, participial phrases, infinitive phrases, or dependent clauses and
phrases in the beginning position.
1. Beginning with an adverb - A descriptor that answers the questions when, where, how, in
what manner can be placed at the beginning of a sentence:
Reluctantly, Rodriguez begins to use English with his family.
Consequently, Rodriguez rejects his home culture, which he feels is required for public success.

2. Beginning with a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives or

adverbs. They are a group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or
pronoun. They exist to show relationships between objects.
In his essay Aria, Richard Rodriguez presents his very controversial position on bilingual
education and assimilation.
Without other options, Rodriguez rejects his home culture to gain public success.
Other typical prepositions are above, against, among, behind, from, of, off, on, with, through,
etc.
Written in the 18th century, the book explores the social roles of the time
3. Begin with a participial. Participial phrases are effective to vary the beginnings of sentences.
Participles are called "verbals" for they are formed from a verb but act as another part of speech.
Participial phrases act as adjective phrases; present participles end in "ing" and past participles
end in, "ed," "d," or "t."
Watching his mothers image disappear, the boyhood Rodriguez sadly begins his process of
separation.
Presenting vivid descriptions of his parents language use, Rodriguez examines the messages
of power he believes socially disadvantaged minorities receive.
Having internalized the message of inferiority, he describes his own house as gaudy.
Horrified by his fathers weakness, Rodriguez distances himself from his family and the shared
language of intimacy.
Warning Dont create an error called a "dangling modifier."
Ex: Having recently died, the family met to discuss the grandfathers will.
As a minority growing up in a predominantly white society, environmental aspects influence
Rodriguezs struggle of acceptance into American society.

4. Begin with an infinitive phrase. These phrases begin with the word "to" followed by a
simple form of the verb.
To achieve public success, Rodriguez feels he must reject his language of intimacy.

Varying Sentence Beginnings

CWP / M.Wald
5. Begin with a dependent clause or phrase. Often, the easiest manner to achieve variety is
to begin a sentence with a subordinate or dependent clause, resulting in a complex sentence.
Dependent clauses may start with words such as "since," "because," "after," or "while"; these
introductory subordinate conjunctions are followed by both a subject and a verb. Or, begin with
a dependent phrase using given, on account of, due to etc. followed by a noun phrase.
Since he wrote Aria, Rodriguezs position on assimilation has changed, but his view of
bilingual education has not.
Because even his parents begin to use English to interact with him, Rodriguez reluctantly
accepts English as his key to success.
Given the messages he receives, Rodriguez attempts to convince his audience that he and
other minority students have no choice but to assimilate.

6. Begin with a by-phrase. In order to link from the previous sentence and answer the
question How?, consider using By doing something to start the second sentence.
By presenting vivid descriptions of his childhood experiences, Rodriguez attempts to convince
his audience that he and other minority students have no choice but to assimilate.