How to Change Sentence Structure by Changing Parts of Speech

Using a variety of sentence structures is a simple way to add maturity and clarity of thought to your writing. Parts of speech -- nouns, pronouns, adverbs, adjectives and verbs -- can be rearranged for more effective or interesting delivery of ideas and emotions.

Swap an opening adverb clause with a normal structured sentence opening. For example, “The deer bolted across the meadow and flushed a flock of grouse.” Change this sentence with an opening clause to read, “As the deer bolted across the meadow, it flushed a flock of grouse.”

Use a noun clause opener to switch up your sentence structure. Instead of stating “We are impressed by your work,” construct your sentence as follows: “What impresses us most is the quality of your work.”

Use descriptive adverbs and adjectives to open your sentences and bring them to life. Before: “The horses suddenly spooked and ran away.” After: “Suddenly, the horses spooked and ran away.” And for an adjective opener, before: “Horses are fast and graceful.” After: “Fast and graceful, horses depict freedom and beauty.”

Use participle phrases to rearrange your sentence structure. Before: “I went to the driving range after I completed the task.” After: “Having completed the task, I went to the driving range.”

Use prepositional phrases to start a sentence rather than to end it. Before: “The boy walked home after visiting his grandmother.” After: “After visiting his grandmother, the boy walked home.”

Open your sentence with an infinitive phrase. “To laugh is the best medicine of all.”

Identify the gerund phrase in a sentence and change its position. Before: “Learning to ride horses improved her balance and coordination.” After: “ Her balance and coordination was improved by learning to ride horses.”

Break up your sentences or combine them to vary their length and cadence. Do so by joining short sentences with close relation to one another. For instance: “I laughed. You cried.” After: “I laughed and you cried.” Before: “We ran and played while the sun set on the the lake and the loons called mournfully.” After: “We ran and played while the sun set on the lake. The loons called mournfully.”