Year 3 · Unit 3 · Lesson 2 of 5
Sentence Variety for Effect: Short, Long, Powerful
"The kite leapt."
In a story, this short sentence comes straight after several long ones. Why might a writer do that?
A short sentence after long ones lands like a drumbeat. It creates impact, marks a turning point and releases tension. Varying sentence type, length and opening is one of the quickest ways to raise the quality of your writing.
Master the essentials
Simple sentence
One main clause. Short simple sentences create impact or tension.
"Then he let go."
Compound sentence
Two main clauses joined by and, but, or, so, yet.
"He sat down, and the wind dropped."
Complex sentence
A main clause plus a subordinate clause (because, when, although, which, who).
"Although the kite fell, he tried again."
Vary your openings
Start with an adverb, a participle, a prepositional phrase or a subordinate clause.
"Slowly, …" · "Holding the line, …" · "Above the hill, …" · "When the wind changed, …"
Vary your lengths
Long sentences build description or tension; short ones deliver a shock or a turning point.
Long build-up → "Nothing happened."
Minor sentences
A word or phrase used as a sentence for effect. Use sparingly.
"Silence." · "Not again."
Rhythm and lists
Lists and groups of three create rhythm.
"a dog barked; a bus groaned up the main road"
Avoid
Comma splices (two sentences joined by a comma) and "Then… Then…" chains.
✗ "The kite fell, he tried again." ✓ "The kite fell; he tried again."
See it done
1. Improve: "Leo went up the hill. Leo held the kite. Leo ran. The kite fell."
"Clutching the kite, Leo climbed the hill. He ran, but the kite bounced once, twice, and lay still." A participle opening, a compound sentence and a list replace four flat sentences.
2. What type of sentence is "When the wind changed, he almost missed it"?
Complex: a subordinate clause ("When the wind changed") plus a main clause ("he almost missed it").
Common mistake: Comma splices: "The kite fell, he tried again." Two main clauses need a full stop, a semicolon or a joining word: "The kite fell, so he tried again."
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the best answer.
1."Then he let go." is:
Correct. It has one main clause.
Not quite. It has one main clause. Answer: A. a simple sentence.
Not quite. It has one main clause. Answer: A. a simple sentence.
Not quite. It has one main clause. Answer: A. a simple sentence.
2."He sat down, and the wind dropped." is:
Not quite. Two main clauses joined by "and". Answer: B. compound.
Correct. Two main clauses joined by "and".
Not quite. Two main clauses joined by "and". Answer: B. compound.
Not quite. Two main clauses joined by "and". Answer: B. compound.
3."Although the kite fell, he tried again." is:
Not quite. A subordinate clause plus a main clause. Answer: C. complex.
Not quite. A subordinate clause plus a main clause. Answer: C. complex.
Correct. A subordinate clause plus a main clause.
Not quite. A subordinate clause plus a main clause. Answer: C. complex.
4.Which sentence opens with a prepositional phrase?
Not quite. "Above the hill" is a prepositional phrase. Answer: D. Above the hill, the kite climbed..
Not quite. "Above the hill" is a prepositional phrase. Answer: D. Above the hill, the kite climbed..
Not quite. "Above the hill" is a prepositional phrase. Answer: D. Above the hill, the kite climbed..
Correct. "Above the hill" is a prepositional phrase.
5.Why might a writer put a very short sentence after several long ones?
Correct. The contrast in length gives the short sentence force.
Not quite. The contrast in length gives the short sentence force. Answer: A. to create impact or a sudden change.
Not quite. The contrast in length gives the short sentence force. Answer: A. to create impact or a sudden change.
Not quite. The contrast in length gives the short sentence force. Answer: A. to create impact or a sudden change.
6.Which is a comma splice?
Not quite. Two main clauses joined only by a comma. Answer: B. The kite fell, he tried again..
Correct. Two main clauses joined only by a comma.
Not quite. Two main clauses joined only by a comma. Answer: B. The kite fell, he tried again..
Not quite. Two main clauses joined only by a comma. Answer: B. The kite fell, he tried again..
7.What is the best correction of "I was tired, I went to bed"?
Not quite. A joining word fixes the splice. Answer: C. I was tired, so I went to bed..
Not quite. A joining word fixes the splice. Answer: C. I was tired, so I went to bed..
Correct. A joining word fixes the splice.
Not quite. A joining word fixes the splice. Answer: C. I was tired, so I went to bed..
8.Which sentence opens with an adverb?
Not quite. "Quietly" is an adverb. Answer: D. Quietly, the door opened..
Not quite. "Quietly" is an adverb. Answer: D. Quietly, the door opened..
Not quite. "Quietly" is an adverb. Answer: D. Quietly, the door opened..
Correct. "Quietly" is an adverb.
9.Which version shows the most sentence variety?
Not quite. It uses a participle opening and a list. Answer: C. Gasping for breath, he ran faster, leapt the stream and fell..
Not quite. It uses a participle opening and a list. Answer: C. Gasping for breath, he ran faster, leapt the stream and fell..
Correct. It uses a participle opening and a list.
Not quite. It uses a participle opening and a list. Answer: C. Gasping for breath, he ran faster, leapt the stream and fell..
10.Long sentences with several clauses are best for:
Not quite. Length builds up detail and suspense. Answer: B. building description or tension.
Correct. Length builds up detail and suspense.
Not quite. Length builds up detail and suspense. Answer: B. building description or tension.
Not quite. Length builds up detail and suspense. Answer: B. building description or tension.
Bring the paragraph to life
Rewrite this flat paragraph using varied sentence types, lengths and openings. Then compare with the model below.
"The storm started. The rain was heavy. The lights went out. We were scared. We waited. The storm ended."
Model. The storm began without warning. Rain hammered on the roof, drumming louder and louder until we could hardly hear each other. Then the lights went out. Huddled together on the sofa, we waited, counting the seconds between the lightning and the thunder. By midnight, it was over.
Notice: a simple opening, a long descriptive sentence, a short turning point, a participle opening and a prepositional-phrase opening.
Next: the Lesson 2 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.