Teaching page · Grade 3 · Lesson 22

Open with a phrase

A sentence can open with a phrase before it reaches its subject.

What it is

Most sentences start with who or what. If every sentence on your page starts that way, the writing sounds like a list. Moving a when or where phrase to the front changes the rhythm — and the comma tells the reader the real sentence is about to begin.

Watch it built

1
A sentence that starts with its subject.
The river rose.
2
Add a phrase telling when.
The river rose after the storm.
3
Move that phrase to the front and put a comma after it.
After the storm, the river rose.

One more

We went home.
↓
At the end of the day, we went home.
Remember
Move a when or where phrase to the front, then a comma.
Ask yourself: “Does every sentence I wrote start the same way?”

Remember

Start somewhere other than the subject.

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