WRITING WORKSHOP

SENTENCE CONSTRUCTIONSMODULE 1: AT THE PLAYGROUNDUPSR 2012Cynthia C. James2012At the playground

PART 1CONSTRUCTING SIMPLE SENTENCES (Subject Verb Object)Find the verbs.

playingskippingflyingwatchingplayingsittingstanding

playingchildrenTwoareplaying where?on a see-sawwho?how many children?doing what?12Twochildrenareplayingon a see-saw.

flyingchildrenTwoareflying what?kiteswho?how many children?doing what?12Twochildrenareflyingkites. playing

boysTwoareplaying what?ballwho?how many boys?doing what?12Twoboysareplayingball.

watchingold manAniswatching who?the boyswho?how many man?doing what?1Anold maniswatchingthe boys.

skippinggirlAisskipping what?with a skipping ropewho?how many girl?doing what?1Agirlisskippingwith a skipping rope.

sittingwomanAissitting where?on a brick benchwho?how many woman?doing what?1Awomanissittingon a brick bench.

standingmanAisstanding where?beside the womanwho?how many man?doing what?1Amanisstandingbeside the woman. Write the simple sentences.Two children are playing on a see-saw.Two children are flying kites.Two boys are playing ball.An old man is watching the boys.A girl is skipping with a skipping rope.A woman is sitting on a brick bench.A man is standing beside the woman.

12PART 2CONSTRUCTING COMPOUND SENTENCESSentence 1ConjunctionSentence 2COMPOUND SENTENCETwo children are playing on a see-saw.Two children are flying kites.whileTwo children are playing on a see-saw whilethe other two children are flying kites.

Sentence 1ConjunctionSentence 2COMPOUND SENTENCETwo boys are playing ball.A man is watching the boys.whileTwo boys are playing ball whilea man is watching them.

Sentence 1ConjunctionSentence 2COMPOUND SENTENCEA woman is sitting on a brick bench.A man is standing beside the woman.whileA woman is sitting on a brick bench whilea man is standing beside her.

Write your final sentences.Two children are playing on a see-saw while the other two children are flying kites.Two boys are playing ball while a man is watching them.A girl is skipping with a skipping rope.A woman is sitting on a brick bench while a man is standing beside her.

PART 3 (a)Constructing sentences using There is / There areFind the nouns.

swingsmonkey barbenchessee-sawskipping ropekitespeopleballbrick bench

peopleWhat?Where?How many?BeThereTherearetenpeopleat the playground.12345678910What?Where?How many?BeThereTherearetwoswingsat the playground.

swings12What?Where?How many?BeThereTherearetwobenchesat the playground.

benches12What?Where?How many?BeThereThereisabrick benchat the playground.

brick bench1What?Where?How many?BeThereThereisamonkey barnear the swings.

monkey bar1What?Where?How many?BeThereThereisasee-sawbeside the monkey bar.

see-saw1What?Where?How many?BeThereThereisaballat the playground.

ball1What?Where?How many?BeThereThereisaskipping ropeat the playground.

skipping rope1What?Where?How many?BeThereTherearetwokitesflying in the air.

kites12Write the simple sentences.There are ten people at the playground.There are two swings at the playground.There are two benches at the playground.There is a brick bench at the playground.There is a monkey bar near the swings.There is a see-saw beside the monkey bar.There is a ball at the playground.There is a skipping rope at the playground.There are two kites flying in the air.

PART 3 (b)Combining the simple sentences to form compound sentences.Sentence 1Sentence 2Conj.Sentence 3COMPOUND SENTENCEThere are two swings at the playground.There is a brick bench at the playground.andThere are two swings, two benchesanda brick bench at the playground.There are two benches at the playground.

Sentence 1ConjunctionSentence 2COMPOUND SENTENCEThere is a monkey bar near the swings.There is a see-saw beside the monkey bar.andThere is a monkey bar near the swings anda see-saw beside the monkey bar.

Sentence 1ConjunctionSentence 2COMPOUND SENTENCEThere is a ball at the playground.There is a skipping rope at the playground.andThere is a ball anda skipping rope at the playground.

Write your final sentences.There are ten people at the playground.There are two swings, two benches and a brick bench at the playground.There is a monkey bar near the swings and a see-saw beside the monkey bar.There is a ball and a skipping rope at the playground.There are two kites flying in the air.

PUTTING IT TOGETHERChoose the best five sentences to be your final answer.Write all the sentences.Two children are playing on a see-saw while another two children are flying kites.Two boys are playing ball while a man is watching them.A girl is skipping with a skipping rope.A woman is sitting on a brick bench while a man is standing beside the woman.There are ten people at the playground.There are two swings, two benches and a brick bench at the playground.There is a monkey bar near the swings and a see-saw beside the monkey bar.There is a ball and a skipping rope at the playground.There are two kites flying in the air.

Choose the best five.Two children are playing on a see-saw while another two children are flying kites.Two boys are playing ball while a man is watching them.A girl is skipping with a skipping rope.A woman is sitting on a brick bench while a man is standing beside the woman.There are ten people at the playground.There are two swings, two benches and a brick bench at the playground.There is a monkey bar near the swings and a see-saw beside the monkey bar.There is a ball and a skipping rope at the playground.There are two kites flying in the air.

Write your final answers.Two children are playing on a see-saw while another two children are flying kites.Two boys are playing ball while a man is watching them.A girl is skipping with a skipping rope.A woman is sitting on a brick bench while a man is standing beside the woman.There is a monkey bar near the swings and a see-saw beside the monkey bar.

If you have too many sentences to choose from, here are some tips to help you to score betterChoose sentences that describe actions or activities in the picture.Choose compound sentences.Choose sentences that are not repetitive or redundant (e.g. avoid choosing too many sentences that end the same way, i.e. at the playground).Choose sentences that have interesting words, phrases or that have a different structure.