Working towards paragraphs

A quick recap about sentences.

Don't forget to use a capital letter at the beginning of each sentence and a punctuation mark at the end. Short sentences can be built up to make longer (compound) sentences using the conjunction and.

e.g.

• It was dark. The streets were quiet.
• It was dark and the streets were quiet. (compound sentence)

Remember that and is not the only word you can use as a link. By changing the order of elements in a sentence, and using different linking words, the whole meaning of a sentence can be altered.

Other linking words (conjunctions) can introduce the ideas of time (when), cause (because), result (so that) condition (if), concession (although), qualification (which).

When you join two clauses together using a conjunction you are making a complex sentence:

• The plant was dead (complete sentence)
• because (conjunction)
• she hadn't watered it (subordinate clause)

The plant was dead because she hadn't watered it. (complex sentence)

For further information and practice take a look at the detailed 'sentences' factsheets.