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Use lots of different words in your writing to make it more interesting and enjoyable for the reader.

Sentences - Openers

Learn how sentence openers like “After lunch” and “Before bed” make your writing flow smoothly, add interest, and clearly link one idea to the next.

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Fascinating Fact:

Sentence openers such as After lunch or Before bed link ideas together like strong chain links.

In KS1 English, children learn to start sentences in different ways. Using time or place openers helps writing sound more interesting and clearly shows when or where events happen.

Key Terms

Sentence opener: One or more words at the beginning of a sentence that set the time, place or mood.
Time opener: A starter like “After lunch” or “In the morning” that tells us when something happens.
Connective: A joining word or phrase, such as “Then” or “After that”, that links one idea to the next.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a sentence opener in KS1 English?

A sentence opener is the first word or group of words in a sentence. It gives clues about when, where or how something happens and makes writing more interesting.

Why should children use different sentence openers?

Using different sentence openers stops writing sounding repetitive. It helps children organise events clearly and keeps the reader engaged from one sentence to the next.

What are some simple sentence openers for KS1?

Simple openers include “First”, “Next”, “Then”, “After lunch”, “Before bed” and “One day”. These are easy for young writers to use correctly.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Write the next sentence: 'Then they dug for treasure.'

Then they found it.

Eventually they found it.

During they found it.

Firstly, they found it.

Have you ever dug for treasure?

2 .

'Then he fell over.' Which word could we replace 'then' with?

Just

Once

The word 'next' suggests something happened before this and him falling was the 'next' thing to occur.

3 .

Which word should we not use to start a sentence?

Orangutan

First

After

Soon

First, soon and after are all new ways you can start your sentence. Make sure, though, that you pick an appropriate word.

4 .

Write the next sentence: 'Then the rhinoceros burst into our classroom...'

Then he chased the teacher out of the window.

Next, he chased the teacher out of the window.

So he chased the teacher out of the window.

And he chased the teacher out of the window.

Remember - never start a sentence with 'and'. The word 'so' would work better as a connective and not a sentence opener.

5 .

'Then the witch came through the door.' Which word could we replace 'then' with?

Suddenly

Just

The word 'suddenly' suggests it was unexpected. If we wrote 'as,' this would mean we would be expecting something else to happen at the same time: 'As the witch came through the door, her bag fell off her shoulder.'

6 .

Write the next sentence: 'The dog barked all day long.'

And, his owner arrived and let him outside.

Meanwhile, his owner arrived and let him outside.

Finally, his owner arrived and let him outside.

As, his owner arrived and let him outside.

The word 'finally' means the character had been waiting a long time. We know the dog has been barking all day, as this is what it says, which consequently rules out the other possible answers.

7 .

Which word should we not use to start a sentence?

Meanwhile

Suddenly

Cat

If you wanted the word 'cat' in your sentence you would probably need to write 'the cat'.

8 .

'Then he closed the door and sat in front of the fire.' Which word could we replace 'then' with?

First

During

And

Eventually

The word 'eventually' means he did lots of things before this and then finally, he was able to close the door and sit down. We are replacing the word 'then,' which means something has happened before this - that is why the only replacement, with a like-for-like word, is 'eventually'.

9 .

'Then an alien from outer space arrived.' Which word could we replace 'then' with?

And

Meanwhile

Just

The

'Meanwhile' means this happened whilst something else in the story happened, so at the same time. The other options would mean the sentence no longer makes sense.

10 .

Write the next sentence: 'Then she put the cake in the oven.'

During this time, she washed up.

Then she washed up.

And she washed up.

Just then, she washed up.

We wouldn't use 'then' again and 'just then' makes it sound like an unexpected surprise. Also, did you know, microwave ovens were discovered accidentally.

Author: Finola Waller (MEd, Primary School Teacher & KS1 English Quiz Writer)