Skilled writers vary sentences for effect. A long sentence that delays its main clause builds suspense: “Through the smoke, past the burning cars, over the broken wall, the soldier ran.”
Cleft sentences add emphasis: “It was the coach who made the decision.” Parallel subordinate clauses build rhythm: “We will win if we train hard, if we listen and if we believe.”
Short sentences after long ones create impact. In your own writing, plan where the key moment comes and choose the structure that gives it the most force.
Worked example
Rewrite for emphasis on the coach: “The coach made the decision.”
- Use a cleft structure: It was … who …
- Put the coach in the focus position.
Answer:It was the coach who made the decision.
Key words
- cleft sentence
- a sentence split to emphasise one part
- delayed main clause
- a main clause placed at the end for suspense
- impact
- a strong effect
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.9-10.1b