Sentences using the word introduction

All sentences (with pause)

Used with adjectives:

«He began his speech with a brief introduction.«
(brief, short, personal, lengthy, interesting, funny)

«The documentary was an excellent introduction to Roman history.«
(excellent, helpful, informative, useful, general)

«This book provides a comprehensive introduction to his writings.«
(comprehensive, thorough)

Used with verbs:

«The company delayed the introduction of the new drug.«
(delayed, accelerated, announced)

«He wrote an introduction to his collection of poems.«
(wrote, included)

«Let’s skip the introductions and get to work.«
(skip, forget)

«He made a brief introduction before announcing his name.«
(made, gave)

Used with prepositions:

«He mentioned his father in the introduction.«
(in)

«The introduction to her latest book was touching.«
(to)

Your first sentence has to grab the reader’s attention. Take a look at a few of the top introduction sentence examples below for inspiration.

You may have written a powerful essay, but the reader will not read the rest of it unless you grab their attention. The introductory sentences of your first paragraph must explain the topic. 

Accomplishing this can be a challenge, so take a look at a few of the top introductory sentence examples and tips below.

Contents

  • How To Write an Introductory Sentence
  • The Top Tips for Writing a Strong First Sentence
  • Present the Topic Sentence Followed by a Controlling Idea
  • Use Your Topic Sentences To Transition
  • Examples To Consider
  • Introduction Sentences for Blog Posts
  • Introduction Sentence for News Articles
  • Considerations for Your Introductory Sentence
  • Author

How To Write an Introductory Sentence

There is no trick to writing an introductory sentence. You may feel a lot of pressure as you try to craft the words that will adequately grab your reader’s attention while conveying the information below.

Even though it can be stressful, you may want to leave your opening sentence until the end unless you already have a perfect idea. As long as you remember why your essay is critical, focus on the topic, and deliver a bit of emotion, you should have a strong first sentence.

If you struggle to develop a strong first sentence for your essay, take a few examples.

The Top Tips for Writing a Strong First Sentence

Introduction sentence examples

remember why your essay is critical, focus on the topic, and deliver a bit of emotion, you should have a strong first sentence

If you are looking for a few additional tips that can help you write a solid first sentence, some of the advice you may want to follow include:

1. Outline the Paper First

Think about outlining the paper before you get started with the first sentence. You probably already have a lot of research you want to include in the report, or you may want to have a few statistics that you cover. Think about how you will break them up in your paper. How many paragraphs are you going to have? Then, you can get to work thinking about how you want to introduce these various points throughout the essay.

2. Be Clear

As you write your topic sentences, you must be clear. Even though you have much information you want to cover, try not to pack too much information into the first sentence. Show the reader why the topic is essential, and do not beat around the bush. After the first sentence, the reader should be able to identify the main point of that paragraph. Then, you can fill out the rest of the section with the supporting information.

3. Be Intentional With Your Word Choice

You need to think carefully about the words you choose for your topic sentence. Why did you decide to pick those specific words? What types of emotions do you want the reader to feel? How do you think the reader will interpret that topic sentence when combined with the rest of the paragraph? Think carefully about the words you want to use in your topic sentences.

4. Craft Transitions

It would help if you also crafted skillful transitions. As you move from paragraph to paragraph. Even though you want to link each topic sentence to the thesis statement at the top, you also need to connect the sections. What order do you want to present your thoughts in? How can you draw a roadmap for your reader that will make it easier for them to follow the paper as it goes along? Remember that you should choose different transitions for different paragraphs. That way, the essay does not seem monotonous.

These are a few essential points you should keep in mind as you craft your topic sentences. If you are unsure how the reader will interpret specific sentences in your essay, you may consider getting someone else to read it. Then, ask them for their thoughts. They might have a few tips you can follow to improve the quality of your topic sentences.

Present the Topic Sentence Followed by a Controlling Idea

Consider presenting the topic sentence followed by the main idea. This can be a great way to start an essay or paragraph because it clearly states the concept at the top. A few examples include:

There are numerous reasons why the pollution in X town is harming the health of its inhabitants.

  • The topic of this essay is pollution in X town. Then, the main idea is the “numerous reasons.”

If you want to be a strong leader, there are specific characteristics you must have.

  • The topic of this essay is “to be a strong leader.” Then, the main idea is the “certain characteristics.”

Global warming has a wide variety of possible contributing factors.

  • The topic of this essay is “global warming.” Then, the main idea is the “contributing factors.”

Those who hunt for treasure will encounter a wide variety of difficulties. 

  • The topic of this essay is “hunt for treasure.” Then, the main idea is the “wide variety of difficulties.”

There are several reasons why dogs make such good pets.

  • The topic of this essay is “dogs make such good pets.” Then, the main idea is the “several reasons.”

If you want to write a strong topic sentence, you may want to consider structuring your introductory sentence in this way.

Use Your Topic Sentences To Transition

If you want to improve your writing, you can also structure your topic sentences as a transition from the previous paragraph to the next. Some of the examples you may want to consider include:

  • Because there are so many options available, you need to combine your research and personal preferences while remodelling your bathroom.
  • While having a baby is certainly something to be excited about, if this is your first child, you may encounter a lot of significant adjustments in your life.
  • Even though purchasing a second property can be a great way to diversify your investments, you must make sure you are financially prepared before you buy a second property.

Notice how these topic sentences appear to transition from another topic covered in the previous paragraph. This makes it easier for your readers to follow along.

Examples To Consider

Some of the first sentence examples you may want to consider for your essay include: 

Introduction Sentences for Blog Posts

If you are writing a blog post, you need to get to the point immediately. You must have your reader’s attention and make sure they want to keep going. A few examples of powerful introductory sentences for blog posts include:

  • If you want to maximize your social media portfolio followers, five tips can help you.

This sentence clearly explains to the reader what to expect in the rest of the post.

  • If diet and exercise alone are not enough to help you lose weight, look at some pearls from health experts.

This intro hits the reader’s pain point and discusses how the post will address it.

  • If you follow these key points, saving for retirement doesn’t have to be unlocked to get a challenge. 

This intro sentence identifies the problem and explains how it will be solved.

If you follow these examples in your blog posts, you will have an easier time holding your audience’s attention. 

Introduction Sentence for News Articles

An introductory sentence for a news article is similar. It should identify the topic and grab the reader’s attention. A few examples include:

  • President Tayyip Erdogan said NATO-member Turkey couldn’t support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact, given that the Nordic countries were “home to many terrorist organizations.”

This introductory sentence is from an article on Reuters and grabs the reader’s attention by highlighting critical implications regarding NATO. 

  • A 21-year-old Russian soldier went on trial Friday in Kyiv for the killing of an unarmed Ukrainian civilian, marking the first war crime prosecution of a member of the Russian military.

This introductory sentence is from an article by the AP and gets to the point immediately. 

  • At least 11 people died, and 38 others were rescued after a boat carrying migrants capsized on Thursday about 10 miles north of Desecheo Island, P.R., the U.S. Coast Guard said on Friday.

This introductory sentence from the New York Times uses statistics to paint a clear picture for the reader. 

Consider following these examples if you need to write a news article either for educational purposes or as part of your job.

Considerations for Your Introductory Sentence

Now that you have seen a few powerful examples of topic sentences, you might think about getting started yourself. It would help if you had several considerations in your mind as you craft your topic sentence. 

  • Think about including a question to get your reader thinking.
  • Consider including a quote from a relevant expert in the field.
  • Draw from your own experiences if you want to inject a bit of emotion into the topic sentence.

If you think about including these points in your introductory sentence, you should have an easier time convincing your reader to continue with the rest of your essay.

If you still need help, our guide to grammar and syntax explains more.

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«A party was held to introduce the new neighbors to the
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«Carrying fruit from one state to another could introduce new
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SPOTLIGHT-8
MODULE-6
                                                              
NAME: ________________________

                                                                                                                                                      
CLASS: _______ DATE: _____________

Variant – I

A. Fill in the
missing word. There are three extra words.

seaside, boarded, fare, lift, place, nomads,
aisle, track, voyage,  road,
tire, room, trip

1. There isn’t any
……………..……… for another passenger.

2. It’s time to hit
the …………………. or we’ll be late.

3. …………………………. often
move from place to place in search of food and trade.

4. ……………….……………
holidays are my favourite!

5. We stayed at the
hotel which was off the beaten ……………………….. .

6. I was saying,
I have a flat ……………………, at Kilometre 6O on the route between Salta and
Cafayate.

7.
The ……………………….. is based on the distance travelled.

8. Sir, then if you
could take the …………………  seat?

9.
The …………………..  across the Baltic Sea took 11 days.

10. I’m happy
to give you a ……………………….. back to Melbourne if you want to get off
this train.

B. Form nouns from
the words in bold.

1. To my great …………
the play was
excellent.                                                                    ENJOY

2. We wish everybody
joy and …………..……… in the New Year.                                      HAPPY

3. I could see real
………… in my dog’s eyes when I had to go on a business trip.               SAD

4. She looked at him
in
………………..….                                                                            
AMAZE

5. We like to spend a
weekend at the ……………
park.                                                         AMUSE

C. Rewrite the
sentences in reported speech.

1. “We are going to
the theatre tomorrow,” she said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. “She was late
again,” the teacher said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. “I’d like to have
a dog,” he said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. “We played well
and won the game,” Tom said.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. “I’m planning to
go to Italy again,” he said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. “You can collect
passport tomorrow”, the travel agent told me.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. “You must call the
hotel to confirm our reservation”, Sarah said to her husband.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. “This has been my
best holiday ever!” the boy told his friends.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

D. Rewrite the following
sentences in reported speech using the introductory verb in brackets.

1. “Send me a nice
postcard from Milan”, Dave said to Linda. (ask)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. “Call me from your
hotel as soon as you arrive”, Mum said to me. (tell)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. “Do not forget to
renew the passport”, Jenny said to Ted. (tell)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. “What time are we
leaving tomorrow?” John wondered. (ask)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. “Have you got a
pet?” Bob wanted to know. (ask)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

E. Complete the
phrasal verbs with the correct preposition.

1. We were set
…………….. because of Jim, he couldn’t find his ticket.

2. I began to set
…………. my pocket money to buy a notebook.

3. We should set
………….. or we’ll be late.

4. Weather has set
…………….. already, so let’s go camping.

5. Don’t set ………….
all the homework for tomorrow, do some of it today.

F. Fill in the
gaps with the correct preposition.

1. There are many
useless things …………. my father’s garage.

2. The teacher warned
us about the test ……………… advance.

3. Is it possible to
have a bus ………… hire?

4. It’s cheaper to
visit fashionable resorts …………… season.

5 I have to talk to
your parents …………… delay.

G. Translate from
Russian into English.

1. успеть на автобус —
…………………………………………………………..

2. внутренний рейс —
…………………………………………………………….

3. опоздать на рейс —
……………………………………………………………

4. доводить до белого каления —
…………………………………………….…

5. заболеть морской болезнью —
……………………………………………….

6. время посадки пассажиров —
…………………………………………………

7. разнообразные ландшафты —
…………………………………………………

8. пробовать местную кухню
…………………………………………………

H. Read the text and complete the
statements True (T), False (F), Not Stated (NS).

Hans Andersen, a lifelong
fisherman, had a dream. He wanted to sail around the world. And he did it. He
got several sponsors who paid for his trip. He bought a beautiful 40
foot
yacht, with all the latest technical and safety gear, and had a pleasant
voyage. Well, except for almost sinking while going around the tips of South
America and Africa.

The voyage went so
smoothly that, looking back on it, he felt it was too easy. He needed a new
challenge. He decided to build his own boat. But that was nothing new. Several
people had built their own boats and sailed them around the world. No, he
needed a unique boat. Watching TV commercials one day, he got it—ice cream
sticks! He would be the first man to sail around the world in a boat built
exclusively of ice cream sticks.

He put out the word.
Within three years, school children from all over Holland had sent Hans 15
million ice cream sticks. He used these sticks to build a 45
foot
replica of a Viking ship. After all the sticks were glued together, Hans took
his new boat out to sea on a one
week voyage.
«It’s magnificent, and totally seaworthy,» he proclaimed.

He plans to set out
to sail in about three years with a crew of two. He will sail across the
Atlantic to Canada, and then down to Florida and through the Panama Canal. Then
he’ll travel to Los Angeles, Honolulu, Tokyo, around the tip of Africa, and
back to Holland. «If this trip succeeds,» he joked, «my next
goal will be to build a plane out of ice cream sticks and fly it around the
world!»

1.       His first
trip around the world was funded by the local businessman.                   .……………….

2.       He started
to plan a new trip because he wanted to become world famous.           .……………….

3.       He had
been collecting ice cream sticks for 3 years before he built a model          .……………….

of Viking ship.

4.       His plan
is to be along sailing around the world.                                                 .……………….

SPOTLIGHT-8
MODULE-6
                                                        
NAME: ________________________

                                                                                                                                          
CLASS: _______ DATE: _____________

Variant – II

A. Fill in the
missing word. There are three extra words.

strange, unspoilt, miss, harbour, drive, journey, reach, voyage, domestic, boat,
arrive, book, boarded

1.     
What time does the plane
…………………….. in Paris?

2.     
Our flight is delayed too.
So we are in the same …………………….

3.     
The area was ………………………….
countryside, before the town was built.

4.     
 We should ……………………. our
tickets right now.

5.     
Our neighbours are so
noisy, they ……………………. me crazy.

6.     
It has two terminals, one
for ………………… flights and second for international flights.

7.     
I arrived in New York and
saw the Statue of Liberty in the ………………………. .

8.     
I was in a hurry in order
not to …………………. the flight.

9.     
I started thinking
……………………… things, getting paranoid…

10. 
The ………………………..  to
Copenhagen is thus strengthened
(приобретает особую важность).

B. Form nouns from
the words in bold
.

1. It is not easy to
reach an …………… when you have opposite views on the problem.   AGREE

2. You should
understand the great ……………………….. of this decision.                      SERIOUS

3. The headmaster
made a very important ……………….. at the meeting.                         ANNOUNCE

4. We all are
interested in the rapid …………………… of our country.                              DEVELOP

5. At the job
interview try to hide your ……………………….
.                                          NERVOUS

C. Rewrite the
sentences in reported speech.

1. “We went to the
cinema last Sunday”, Mike said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. “He is living in
Madrid now”, Steve said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. “It’s so cold
today”, Ann said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. “You can visit us
any time”, Zoe said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. “I’ll meet Claire
tomorrow”, Jack said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. “I bought a new
car last week”, Bill said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. “Leaves fall from
the trees in autumn”, John said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. “He haven’t seen
Tom for two weeks”, Dave said.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

D. Rewrite the
following sentences in reported speech using the introductory verb in brackets.

1. Mary said me,
“Come with me, please.” (tell)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. “Do you like
fish?” she asked Jonathan. (ask)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. He said to them,
“Don’t stay out late tonight.” (tell)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. “What time does
the next bus leave?” mother asked. (ask)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. She asked, “Can
you play the piano?” (ask)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

E. Complete the
phrasal verbs with the correct preposition.

1. What time did you
set ………………. yesterday to get the train?

2. We should finish
all the work in the garden before the cold weather set …………….. .

3. We set
………………..…… early in the morning to catch the train.

4. The beginning of
the school year can’t be set ………………… !

5. Summer is really
setting ………………….. . It’s so hot today.

F. Fill in the
gaps with the correct preposition.

1. Your order should
paid …………………..…. advance.

2. Drivers must be
very attentive …………..  the road.

3. There are many
useless things ……………… my father’s garage.

4. If you want to
watch this film you must buy tickets ……………. delay.

5. At this resort you
can have a boat ………………… hire.

G. Translate from
Russian into English.

1. откладывать деньги на
путешествие — …………………………………………………..

2. подвезти кого-либо —
……………………………………………………………………..

3. передавайте за проезд —
…………………………………………………………….……

4. место у прохода —
…………………………………………………………………………

5. путешествовать вне сезона —
……………………… ……………………………………..

6. захватывающий дух вид —
…………………………………………………………………

7. исследовать природу
……………………………………………………………………

8. ехать по шоссе
…………………………………………………………………………..

H. Read the text and complete
the statements True (T), False (F), Not Stated (NS).

Hans Andersen, a lifelong
fisherman, had a dream. He wanted to sail around the world. And he did it. He
got several sponsors who paid for his trip. He bought a beautiful 40
foot
yacht, with all the latest technical and safety gear, and had a pleasant
voyage. Well, except for almost sinking while going around the tips of South
America and Africa.

The voyage went so
smoothly that, looking back on it, he felt it was too easy. He needed a new
challenge. He decided to build his own boat. But that was nothing new. Several
people had built their own boats and sailed them around the world. No, he
needed a unique boat. Watching TV commercials one day, he got it—ice cream
sticks! He would be the first man to sail around the world in a boat built
exclusively of ice cream sticks.

He put out the word.
Within three years, school children from all over Holland had sent Hans 15
million ice cream sticks. He used these sticks to build a 45
foot
replica of a Viking ship. After all the sticks were glued together, Hans took
his new boat out to sea on a one
week voyage.
«It’s magnificent, and totally seaworthy,» he proclaimed.

He plans to set out
to sail in about three years with a crew of two. He will sail across the
Atlantic to Canada, and then down to Florida and through the Panama Canal. Then
he’ll travel to Los Angeles, Honolulu, Tokyo, around the tip of Africa, and
back to Holland. «If this trip succeeds,» he joked, «my next
goal will be to build a plane out of ice cream sticks and fly it around the
world!»

1.       Hans
Andersen is a professional fisherman.                                                        .……………….

2.       There were
no accidents during  his first round the world voyage.                        .……………….

3.       He used
the Internet to announce about his original plan and ask for help.            .……………….

4.       The model
worked well in the real conditions of the open sea.                             .……………….

How to Introduce Yourself in English (Like a Pro)

If you have difficulty when it comes to introducing yourself to someone for the first time, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. A lot of native speakers also become tongue-tiedtongue-tied: not able to speak because you feel shy or nervous when talking about themselves!

Even so, if your goal is to speak English more fluently, it’s a good idea to develop a clear and brief introduction for yourself.

That way, you’ll be ready to answer the most common questions that people ask each other – particularly in professional situations and business contexts:

  • Where are you from?
  • What do you do?
  • What are your special skills?
  • What are you passionate about?

Below are some examples of phrases you can use to introduce yourself and give other people a clear understanding of who you are.

Best Books for Learning English at Home

You can learn English fast with a few good books. Here are the best ones for improving your vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills.

Matt Lemanski


Example of a Professional Introduction

Below is an example of a brief introduction in a formal style. This style is commonly used at a job interview or business event, or in a cover letter.

As you read it, notice the words and ideas included – as well as what is omittedomit: to not include something or someone. There are no idioms, no phrasal verbs, no opinions.

You may also notice that there are no contractions (I’m, I’ve, my name’s), which increases the formal tone of the text.

The goal here is to communicate information about yourself clearly and quickly (in just 100 words), while showing a potential employer or client that you are a serious professional.

self-portrait

Hello, my name is Matt Lemanski. I am the creator of Speaking of English, a blog for intermediate English learners who want to become more fluent in the language. I am originally from the United States and I currently live in Germany. I have been a teacher since 2008, and specialize in business writing and IELTS preparation. Before becoming a teacher, I worked as a copyeditor for government agencies in Washington DC and as a ghostwriter for startup founders and independent consultants around the world. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, practicing photography, and exploring the city by bike.

For more examples of a business-style introduction, check out:

  • 5 types of LinkedIn summaries (The Muse)
  • How to give an ‘elevator pitch’ at a business event (Indeed)

In contrast to the formal style above, let’s now look at a more informal example of a self-introduction in the conversation below.


Example of a Student Introduction (for IELTS)

If you take the IELTS, your self-introduction may sound a little different, since the Speaking Test is structured like a conversation. Watch the video below and listen to how this top-scoring candidate from Spain introduces himself:

To the question ‘What are you studying, and do you enjoy it?’ Xavier offers not only specific details about the subject he is studying, but also his opinions about the experience:

I’m studying law and I do enjoy it, most aspects of it. But in this final year there is a lot of hard work and a lot of reading, and I cannot say that I enjoy all of this reading. But what I really enjoy is working on case studies. What I mean is discussing cases. I like to exchange ideas with people.

His answer to ‘What are your future plans?’ also includes some good phrases:

I want to have a career in law, but I have to decide which area to specialize in first, and then maybe study for another four or five years. I hope to specialize in environmental law, which is the law that businesses have to abide by to ensure that their practices do not affect the environment.

For advice on ‘body language’ at a social event, see WikiHow’s illustrated guide.

IELTS Speaking Topics (with Example Questions + Answers)

Learn about the main topics in each part of the IELTS Speaking Test, and see examples of high-scoring answers from real students.

Speaking of EnglishMatt Lemanski


Other Phrases for Introducing Yourself

  • I’m based in London, but I live in New York. This phrase is used when you want to make it clear that your current living situation is temporary, or you do a lot of traveling because of your job.
  • I live in New York, but I’m originally from Lisbon. English speakers like to use this phrase when mentioning their native country or city. It’s more common than phrases like I was born in / I grew up in.
  • I’m a colleague of Jane’s. When introducing yourself in a group or at an event (like a party or a conference), it’s helpful to explain your connection to other people in the group or event. Similar phrases include: I work together with Jane / I’m Jane’s brother / Jane and I both study Chemistry at Toronto University.
  • I’m the father of two young girls. You can use this phrase if you want to say something about your family (it’s also a simple way for parents to explain why they don’t have much “free” time). Similar phrases include: I’m the daughter of two psychologists / I’m one of eight children / I’m the son of Queen Elizabeth.

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Phrases to Describe Your Job or Studies

These phrases are good for both formal situations like job interviews, as well as casual situations like parties.

  • I work at English Experts in the Marketing Department. When English speakers want keep their introduction simple (and avoid giving long or complex titles like Senior Vice President and General Manager of North American Sales for Behemoth Enterprises), they often just give the name of the company, and perhaps their department. This phrase also works for students: I study Chemistry at Toronto University / I’m a student at Toronto University, in the Chemistry Department.
  • I have worked at English Experts since 2012 / for 8 years. Details about time are nice to include in your self-introduction, but remember that English requires a different verb tense (known as the present perfect) when you use the prepositions for or since.
  • I’m responsible for managing the digital marketing campaigns. When introducing yourself to people in the same company or department, you can use this phrase to describe the most important thing you do. Similar phrases include I’m in charge of and I deal with. Notice the ing. This phrase requires a noun (or a gerund, which the noun form of a verb), so you can also use nouns with these phrases: I’m in charge of the website / I deal with the suppliers.
  • I hold a master’s degree in Chemistry from Toronto University. This phrase is useful when you want to highlight your educational achievements, but it is typically only found in cover letters and formal documents. In conversation, English speakers use a slightly more informal phrase: I have a master’s in Chemistry / I have an M.A. in Chemistry.
  • When not in the office, you can find me on the football pitch. This is a nice alternative phrase for mentioning other activities, especially if you have many sentences that start with I (I work… I’m responsible… I hold…). When not studying Chemistry, you can find me spending time with my family. Notice the ing endings.

tell me about yourself

A good introduction tells a story with present, past, and future (The Balance)

Talking About Yourself in an Interview

When introducing yourself in an interview, the person you speak with may want to know more than a few short sentences and simple details about you. They may ask you to ‘tell me about yourself’.

In other words, they want you to tell a story that ties together your present situation, past experiences, and future plans – topics that require slightly more advanced grammar:

  • For several months now, I have been working on a project. Notice the verb form here; it differs from the earlier phrase, I have worked. When talking about a project that you plan or hope to finish in the near future, it’s common to use the Present Perfect Progressive: have been doing. (Learning English is also a project: I’ve been learning English since January.)
  • My passion for learning languages began 10 years ago, when I visited Japan. To tell a story, English speakers typically use the Past Simple tense (as in visited). It’s also good to give details about place and time, using ago to mark specific times in the past: a few weeks ago, five months ago.
  • I would like to become fluent in English so that I can attend university in Canada. When talking about your personal goals, you can use the Conditional form: would like. This common phrase can be used to talk about any project or action you want to do in the future.

Photo by Manja Vitolic

Introduction

If someone asked you to define a sentence, do you think you could? You might be tempted to say, “No way!” I bet you do know a sentence when you see it. Prove me right; pick out the sentence from these four groups of words:

  • Throughout people’s ears grow entire their lives.
  • Grow throughout people’s entire ears lives their.
  • Entire throughout lives ears grow people’s their.
  • People’s ears grow throughout their entire lives.

Each of the four groups contains exactly the same words, but only one is a sentence: the last one. You were able to pick out the sentence so easily because you have an innate knowledge of how English works—knowledge you have absorbed from reading, speaking, listening, and watching.

You Could Look It Up

A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought.

But perhaps you need a little more work on sentences. Maybe you’re not sure about the different kinds of sentences and how they’re used. That’s what you’ll learn here. First, you learn about the two main parts of the sentence: the subject and the predicate. Then I teach you the four different types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. Next come the four different sentence functions. Along the way, you learn how to fix the two most common sentence errors: fragments and run-ons.

book cover

Excerpted from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grammar and Style © 2003 by Laurie E. Rozakis, Ph.D.. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

To order this book direct from the publisher, visit the Penguin USA website or call 1-800-253-6476. You can also purchase this book at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

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