Varying Your Sentences
Aligned to L.6.3 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Vary sentence length and pattern to control rhythm and keep readers interested, and keep your style and tone consistent within a piece. A string of same-length sentences reads flat; a mix reads alive.
Worked examples
Example 1
Flat: 'The dog ran. It jumped the fence. It chased the cat.' Varied: 'The dog ran, jumped the fence, and chased the cat down the alley.' Combining short choppy sentences into one flowing sentence improves the rhythm.
Example 2
Three short sentences in a row after a long one create emphasis. Used by accident they just sound choppy; used on purpose they are a tool.
Example 3
Vary where the sentence starts, not only how long it is. Beginning four sentences with 'The' is what makes a paragraph feel flat.
Practice questions
- Find three short, same-length sentences and combine two of them.
- Start one sentence with a phrase instead of the subject (e.g., 'By morning, ...').
- Reread a paragraph and fix one sentence that breaks your tone.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Variar tus Oraciones
Varía la longitud y el patrón de las oraciones para controlar el ritmo y mantener el interés del lector, y conserva un estilo y un tono consistentes en todo el texto. Una serie de oraciones del mismo largo se lee plana; una mezcla se lee viva.
Ejemplo 1: Plano: 'El perro corrió. Saltó la barda. Persiguió al gato.' Variado: 'El perro corrió, saltó la barda y persiguió al gato por el callejón.' Unir oraciones cortas y cortadas en una sola oración fluida mejora el ritmo.
Ejemplo 2: Tres oraciones cortas seguidas después de una larga crean énfasis. Por accidente solo suenan entrecortadas; a propósito son una herramienta.
Ejemplo 3: Varía dónde empieza la oración, no solo qué tan larga es. Empezar cuatro oraciones con 'El' es lo que hace que un párrafo se sienta plano.
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