How to write clear and interesting sentences

Speaker 1: We use the rules of grammar all the time to help us be clear when we write or speak.

Verbs are one of the most important parts of grammar.

They are words that describe a physical action, like running, walking, shouting, or a mental action, like thinking, guessing, considering.

Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) How’s your training going?

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) To answer, Sarah needs to use the verb 'to run'.

But she'll need to change the tense of the verb as well.

Speaker 3: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) I ran three times last week.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) Past tense.

Speaker 3: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) I’m running again today, which is a bonus.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) Present tense.

Speaker 3: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) And I will run again this weekend. Definitely.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) Future tense.

We use the verb 'to be' all the time.

In the present tense we say, 'I am', 'you are', 'she is'.

In the past tense, 'I am' becomes 'I was'.

And in the future it becomes 'I will be'.

(TO OTHER PEOPLE) You look really happy today, Rob?

Speaker 2: I am happy - I got out to run today.

Although I was happier with my time yesterday.

And I’ll be even happier if I beat my time next week.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) So, verbs used with the correct tenses allow us to talk about experiences over time.

Speaker 3: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) How are you feeling, Lee?

Speaker 1: I felt exhausted yesterday, I feel exhausted today and I will feel totally exhausted tomorrow.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) When we write or speak, being clear and understood is important.

Using correct grammar helps us say what we really mean.

For instance, every sentence we write or speak has a subject.

The person or object the sentence is about.

This wall, me, the fish, the chips.

Some of these subjects are singular - there’s just one of them, like the fish.

Other subjects are plural, like the chips.

Verbs, words describing actions, have to agree with them.

This is because verbs have singular and plural forms too.

Think about the verb 'to be'. 'It is' - singular. 'They are' - plural.

(TO OTHER PEOPLE) How is your fish, Beth?

Speaker 2: Oh, the fish is delicious!

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) The subject is 'the fish'.

There’s only one fish so, using the verb 'to be', the fish is delicious. The chips are plural so…

Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) And the chips are great too.

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) So, by making sure subjects and verbs agree we know we’ll be properly understood.

You can do this with all verbs and subjects, like the verb 'to have'.

(TO OTHER PEOPLE) Guys, can I have my food now?

Speaker 3: Oh, all my fish has gone.

Speaker 2: And I have finished my chips.

Speaker 1: Keeping consistent in a longer piece of writing is important.

We’re reading through Beth’s article about Scarlett’s gig before it goes live.

Tenses need to be consistent so Beth can describe Scarlett's gig yesterday in the past tense, whilst she’s in the present tense, to say how she feels now.

Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) 'Last night this great local band shocked and rocked. I think they’ve got a bright future.'

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) Verbs like 'must', 'should', 'will' and 'can' all add variety in what you can express, so using them, Beth can write predictions.

Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) 'This band should be big and they will be before long.'

Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) Beth also uses a range of language.

It's important not to start every sentence with 'I' or 'The band', so she mixes it up.

Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) 'Who would have thought that misery could be so entertaining?'

My last paragraph is just one line.

'This band proves that every silver lining definitely has a cloud.'

Speaker 3: A huge black storm cloud. I love it!