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Academy11+

Word bank 7 of 8 · 83 words · Free to print

Sentence openers and connectives word bank

Time, place, -ing, -ed and adverb openers, plus connectives for adding, contrasting and cause and effect.

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About this word bank

If every sentence starts with "I", "He" or "Then", writing quickly feels flat. Varying how sentences begin is one of the easiest ways for a child to show control in an 11+ story.

Openers set the scene or the pace; connectives join ideas and show how they link. Use a mix, not one in every sentence.

The words

  • Time openers

    Move the story on, or slow it down.

    1. At first
    2. Meanwhile
    3. Just then
    4. Suddenly
    5. Without warning
    6. Moments later
    7. Before long
    8. As soon as
    9. Later that day
    10. By nightfall
    11. Eventually
    12. At last

    Without warning, the lights went out.

    By nightfall, the search party had reached the edge of the moor.

  • Place openers

    Set the scene at the start of a sentence.

    1. Deep in the forest
    2. High above
    3. Beneath the bridge
    4. Across the field
    5. Behind the door
    6. In the distance
    7. Along the shore
    8. Inside the cave
    9. At the top of the stairs
    10. Under the floorboards

    Deep in the forest, an old hut leant against a twisted oak.

  • -ing openers

    Two actions at once. Put a comma after the opening phrase.

    1. Trembling
    2. Gasping for breath
    3. Clutching the map
    4. Peering round the corner
    5. Grinning
    6. Hoping no one would notice
    7. Racing down the hill
    8. Holding her breath

    Clutching the map, Rosa edged towards the cliff path.

  • -ed openers

    Start with how a character feels. Add a comma.

    1. Exhausted
    2. Terrified
    3. Determined
    4. Amazed
    5. Startled
    6. Relieved
    7. Delighted
    8. Puzzled
    9. Frozen with fear
    10. Soaked to the skin

    Exhausted, the climbers collapsed into their tent.

  • Adverb openers

    Show how, or how lucky. Add a comma.

    1. Slowly
    2. Carefully
    3. Silently
    4. Nervously
    5. Cautiously
    6. Bravely
    7. Reluctantly
    8. Luckily
    9. Fortunately
    10. Unfortunately
    11. Strangely
    12. Surprisingly

    Reluctantly, Ollie handed over the last biscuit.

  • Connectives for adding

    Add another idea.

    1. and
    2. also
    3. too
    4. as well as
    5. besides
    6. in addition
    7. what's more
    8. furthermore
    9. moreover
    10. not only... but also

    The bridge was old and rotten; what's more, the river beneath it was rising fast.

  • Connectives for contrast

    Show a change of direction.

    1. but
    2. yet
    3. although
    4. even though
    5. whereas
    6. while
    7. however
    8. despite
    9. instead
    10. on the other hand
    11. nevertheless

    Although the door was locked, a thin line of light glowed beneath it.

  • Cause and effect

    Explain why, or what happened next.

    1. because
    2. so
    3. since
    4. as
    5. so that
    6. which meant
    7. as a result
    8. therefore
    9. consequently
    10. this led to

    The snow had blocked the road, so the bus never came.

How to use this word bank without overdoing it

  • Vary, don't overload. Aim for a mix: some sentences that start with the character, some with a time or place opener, some with an -ing or -ed opener.
  • Commas matter. Put a comma after most openers: "Trembling, she opened the door."
  • "Suddenly" loses its power if it appears three times. Use it once, at a real surprise.
  • Long words like "furthermore" and "consequently" suit essays and reports more than stories. In a story, "so", "but" and "although" often read better.

Practice: Six different starts

  1. Write six sentences about a child finding a mysterious box.
  2. Start each one in a different way: a time opener, a place opener, an -ing opener, an -ed opener, an adverb, and the character's name.
  3. Check you have a comma after each opener (except the name).

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Questions parents ask

What are good sentence openers for 11+ creative writing?

Mix time openers (Moments later, By nightfall), place openers (Deep in the forest), -ing openers (Clutching the map), -ed openers (Exhausted) and adverbs (Reluctantly). Starting sentences in different ways shows the examiner control of sentence structure.

What is the difference between a sentence opener and a connective?

An opener is how a sentence begins: a word or phrase that sets the time, place, feeling or manner. A connective joins ideas, within a sentence or between sentences, and shows how they link (adding, contrasting, cause and effect).

Do I need a comma after a sentence opener?

Usually, yes. Put a comma after an opening phrase or adverb: "Without warning, the lights went out." Very short time words like "Then" or "Soon" can go without one.