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Sentence variation
Learning how to begin a sentence in different ways can be a useful tool for paraphrasing. It adds variety and interest to your writing. Study each example below; the variation technique is in bold.
1. Original sentence: John Lee not only plays the piano with great accomplishment but he also plays eight other instruments with ease.
| Begin with a noun appositive: | An accomplished pianist, John Lee also plays eight other instruments with ease. |
2. Original sentence: Fonterra is a large and powerful corporation with sole monopoly of NZ's milk export industry.
| Begin with an adjective appositive: | Large and powerful, Fonterra has sole monopoly of New Zealand's milk export industry. |
3. Original sentence: Madame Curie was an industrious worker in the research team.
| Begin with a prepositional phrase: | In her research team, Madame Curie was an industrious worker. |
4. Original sentence: The council organised some public meetings to encourage more community discussion.
| Begin with an infinitive (to+verb) phrase: | To encourage community discussion, the council has organised some public meetings. |
5. Original sentence: The students believed that their English proficiency improved because they watched English films.
| Begin with a verb+ing phrase: | Watching English films improved their English language skills, according to the students. By watching English films, the students believed that their English language skills improved. |
6. Original sentence: Beethoven, who also played harpsichord and viola, was appointed deputy court organist at the age of 12.
| Begin with a verb appositive: | Appointed deputy court organist at the age of 12, Beethoven also played harpsichord and viola. |
7. Original sentence: People are generally more susceptible to illnesses when they feel stressed.
| Begin with a clause modifier: | When people are stressed, they are more susceptible to illness. People who are stressed are more susceptible to illness. |
8. Original sentence: Additive personality is the result of a combination of psychological, biological and environmental influences, and not jsut a pre-determined set o behavioural traqits (White, 2014)
Begin with a reporting phrase:
Click here for an excellent resource of such phrases. | Doug Sellman, Director of the National Addiction Centre at the University of Otago, suggests that additive personality is the result of a combination of psychological, biological and environmental influences, and "not just a pre-determined set of behavioral traits". (White, 2014). It has been suggested that.... (Whilte, 2014) |
(Introducing Sellman's ideas in this way, and directly quoting from the article and including an appropritate style citation, makes the paraphrase more acceptable. 
Vary sentence openings
Revise each sentence using the structure indicated in brackets.
Example: The guards were fully armed, and they expected trouble. (Begin with present participle -Verb+ing - phrase.)
Paraphrase: Expecting trouble, the guards were fully armed.
Now you try.
1 The pioneer was strong and healthy and lived to be 112 years old. (Begin with adjective modifiers.)
2 Richard's youngest son began his travels at a very early age and had many exotic adventures. (Begin with Verb+ing phrase.)
3 The university will open on September 19 unless circumstances force a postponement. (Begin with a clause modifier)
4 The National Party leader listed all the achievements of the party in his opening address. (Begin with a prepositional phrase.)
5 Plato, who is the author of the Socrates dialogues, is read by many philosophy students. (Begin with an appositive.)
6 One of the greatest fears of new immigrants is that they may not be accepted by the local people. (Begin with a clause modifier.)
7 The winner of the 2011 Young Opera Talent award took her training to Milan to begin her dream of becoming a major opera star. (Begin with an infinitive -to+verb- phrase.)
8 Beethoven was plagued by ill health throughout his adult life, and in 1819 developed a severe ear infection which led to his tragic deafness. (Begin with a past participle:Verb+ed- phrase.)
9 Rising sea levels may result in salination of aquifers (Thompson, 2002). (Change to a reported statement using the reporting verb 'notes'.)
2 Beginning/Having begun his travels at a very early age Richard's youngest son had many exotic adventures. (Begin with Verb+ing phrase.)
3 Unless circumstances force a postponement, the university will open on September 19. (Begin with an adverb clause.)
4 In his opening address, the National Party leader listed all the achievements of the party. (Begin with a prepositional phrase.)
5 The author of the Socrates dialogues, Plato is read by many philosophy students. (Begin with an appositive.)
6 That they may not be accepted by the local people is one of the greatest fears of new immigrants. (Begin with a clause modifier.)
7 To begin her dream of becoming a major opera star, the winner of the 2011 Young Opera Talent award took her training to Milan (Begin with infinitive (to+verb) phrase.)
8 Plagued by ill health throughout his adult life, Beethoven developed a severe ear infection in 1819, which led to his tragic deafness. (Begin with past participle(Verb+ed) phrase.)
9 Thompson (2002) notes that rising sea levels may result in salination of acquifers. (reported statement) OR
It has been pointed out that rising sea levels.....(Thompson, 2002)
