The key idea
You put sentences about one idea in one paragraph. You start a new paragraph when the idea changes. Your text has a beginning, a middle and an end.
What is it for?
Learn how to group related sentences into paragraphs and organise a short text with a clear beginning, middle and end.
What you need to know
- Put sentences about one main idea together in a paragraph.
- Start a new paragraph when the time, place, person or topic changes.
- Use short paragraphs of two to four sentences and leave a blank line between them in emails and online texts.
- Give a short text a beginning, a middle and an end.
- Choose time order for events and topic order for different subjects.
- Plan each paragraph with keywords before writing.
1. One paragraph, one main idea
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea. The first sentence often tells the reader the idea. The other sentences add details, examples or information.
Before you add a sentence, ask yourself: Does it belong to this idea? If it does, keep it in the paragraph. If it does not, it may belong in another paragraph.
- Start with a sentence that introduces the main idea.
- Add two or three sentences with related details.
- Keep sentences about different ideas in different paragraphs.
Our hotel was small and friendly. The rooms were clean. The staff were very helpful.
All three sentences describe the hotel, so they belong together.
Our hotel was small and friendly. On Saturday, we visited a museum.
The second sentence describes an activity, so it may fit better in another paragraph.
2. When should you start a new paragraph?
Start a new paragraph when the main idea changes. A change in time, place or person can show that it is time for a new paragraph. You can also start a new paragraph when you begin a new topic.
You do not need a new paragraph for every sentence. Keep related sentences together, but make a clear space when you move to a new idea.
- New time: you move from Friday to Saturday.
- New place: you move from a hotel to a museum.
- New person: you move from describing your friend to describing your guide.
- New topic: you move from travel plans to the food.
On Friday, we arrived at the hotel. We unpacked our bags.
These sentences describe events at the same time and place.
On Saturday, we visited a museum.
This sentence begins a new paragraph because the time and activity change.
3. Give your text a beginning, a middle and an end
A short text is easier to follow when the ideas have a clear order. Use the beginning to introduce the visit or trip. Use the middle to give the main details. Use the end to say how the visit finished or what you thought about it.
In an email or an online text, leave a blank line between paragraphs. At A2 level, two to four sentences in each paragraph are usually enough.
- Beginning: say where you went, when you went or who went with you.
- Middle: describe the main activities, places or events.
- End: say what happened last or give your opinion.
- Leave a blank line between paragraphs so the text is easy to read.
Last weekend, I visited a small town with my cousin.
This beginning introduces the trip.
On Sunday evening, we returned home tired but happy.
This ending tells the reader how the trip finished.
4. Choose an order and plan with keywords
There are two useful ways to organise ideas. Use time order when you describe events from first to last. Use topic order when you describe different subjects, such as a place, its food and its activities.
Before you write, make a small plan. Write a few keywords for each paragraph. Then put the paragraphs in an order that helps the reader follow your ideas.
- Time order: first, next, later, finally.
- Topic order: the place, the activities, the food.
- Choose the order that best fits your text.
- Write keywords first, then turn them into sentences.
First, we took a bus. Next, we walked to the lake. Finally, we returned to the hotel.
Time words show the order of the events.
The town was quiet. The local market was colourful. The food was delicious.
Each sentence describes a different topic about the town.
How to do it, step by step
- Write keywords about the trip or visit and choose your main ideas.
- Write the beginning paragraph to introduce the trip or visit.
- Write the middle paragraph with the main activities or details.
- Write the end paragraph to describe the final event or give your opinion.
- Check that each paragraph has one main idea and leave a blank line between paragraphs.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| Last weekend, I visited... | Last weekend, I visited a small town. | Last month, I visited my aunt. |
| I went to... with... | I went to the beach with my family. | I went to a museum with my friend. |
| First, we... | First, we walked around the town. | First, we found our hotel. |
| Next, we... | Next, we visited the local market. | Next, we had lunch near the river. |
| Later, we... | Later, we took some photos. | Later, we went back to the hotel. |
| Finally, we... | Finally, we caught the bus home. | Finally, we said goodbye to our guide. |
| The best part was... | The best part was the boat trip. | The best part was the beautiful garden. |
| I really liked... because... | I really liked the museum because it was interesting. | I really liked the beach because it was quiet. |
UK / US: Both British and American English use paragraphs in the same way. Leave a blank line between paragraphs in emails and online texts.
Model text
A Weekend in Green Bay
Beginning
Last weekend, I visited Green Bay with my friend Lina. We travelled by train on Saturday morning. The town was small and beautiful.
This paragraph introduces the place, the time and the person.
Middle
First, we walked around the town centre and took photos. Then, we visited a local museum. The museum was interesting, and the guide was very friendly. At lunchtime, we ate sandwiches in a park near the river.
This paragraph describes the main activities in time order.
End
In the afternoon, we bought some postcards and caught the train home. We arrived at six o'clock. I really enjoyed our visit because we saw many new things. We were tired but happy.
This paragraph finishes the visit and gives the writer's opinion.
Common mistakes
✗ Last weekend, I visited a village. The village was quiet. The village had a small market. On Sunday, we went home.
✓ Last weekend, I visited a village. The village was quiet and had a small market.
On Sunday, we went home.
On Sunday, we went home.
Keep related details together and start a new paragraph when the main idea changes.
✗ Last weekend, I visited a town. First, we saw the museum. Finally, we took the train. Next, we walked around the park.
✓ Last weekend, I visited a town. First, we saw the museum. Next, we walked around the park. Finally, we took the train.
Put events in time order when you describe a trip from beginning to end.
✗ Last Saturday, we visited a lake. We had a picnic.
The lake was beautiful. We took photos.
The lake was beautiful. We took photos.
✓ Last Saturday, we visited a lake. The lake was beautiful. We took photos. We had a picnic.
Put sentences about the same main idea together in one paragraph.
✗ Last weekend, I visited a town with my friend. We went home. The town had a lovely park.
✓ Last weekend, I visited a town with my friend. The town had a lovely park. We went home.
Put related details before the final event to help the reader follow the story.
✗ Last weekend, I visited a small town.
The town was quiet.
The market was colourful.
The food was delicious.
The town was quiet.
The market was colourful.
The food was delicious.
✓ Last weekend, I visited a small town. The town was quiet.
The market was colourful. The food was delicious.
The market was colourful. The food was delicious.
Use short paragraphs, but keep closely related sentences together.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Write three headings: Beginning, Middle and End.
- Add keywords about the place, time and people to the beginning.
- Add keywords about the main activities to the middle.
- Add keywords about the final event and your opinion to the end.
- Choose time order or topic order before writing your sentences.
Check
- Does each paragraph focus on one main idea?
- Do I start a new paragraph when the time, place, person or topic changes?
- Does my text have a beginning, a middle and an end?
- Are my paragraphs short and easy to read?
- Have I left a blank line between paragraphs?
Practice
Choose the best paragraph
Choose the best answer for each question.
1.A paragraph describes a visit to a zoo. Which sentence belongs in it?
The lions belong to the zoo visit, but the other sentences describe different topics.
2.Which is the best first sentence for a text about a day trip?
The second sentence introduces the trip before giving details.
3.You write about Friday at a hotel. Now you describe Saturday at a museum. What should you do?
A new day and place are good reasons to start a new paragraph.
4.A paragraph describes a walk in a park. Which sentence belongs in it?
The ducks near the pond are part of the walk in the park.
5.Which sentence is the best beginning for a text about a museum visit?
This sentence introduces the visit and tells the reader when it happened.
6.You finish describing a beach visit and begin describing the food at a restaurant. What is the best choice?
Food at a restaurant is a new topic, so a new paragraph can make the text clearer.
Check your paragraph knowledge
Read each statement and choose true or false.
1.A paragraph usually focuses on one main idea.
Related sentences belong together because they develop the same main idea.
2.Every sentence in a text needs its own paragraph.
A paragraph usually contains several sentences about one main idea.
3.A new place can be a good reason to start a new paragraph.
A change of place can show that the text is moving to a new idea.
4.The beginning of a short text should always describe the final event.
The beginning introduces the trip or visit, while the end describes the final event or gives an opinion.
5.Time order is useful when you describe events from first to last.
Time words help readers follow what happened and when.
6.A blank line between paragraphs makes an online text harder to read.
A blank line separates ideas and makes the text easier to read.
Match the paragraph parts
Match each paragraph part with its purpose or example.
1.Beginning
2.Middle
3.End
4.Time order
5.Topic order
Build clear topic sentences
Put the words in the correct order to make a sentence.
1.Put the words in order:
museumwevisiteda
Start with the subject, then the verb and the place.
2.Put the words in order:
beautifulparkwasthe
Put the subject first, then use was to describe it.
3.Put the words in order:
tookwephotosmany
Use the subject before the past simple verb and its details.
4.Put the words in order:
deliciousfoodwasthe
This sentence gives one clear idea about the food.
5.Put the words in order:
finallyhomewewent
Finally shows that this event happened at the end.
Now write
Your task
Write a short text of three paragraphs about a trip or a visit. In the beginning, introduce the place, time and people. In the middle, describe the main activities or details. In the end, describe the final event or give your opinion. Leave a blank line between paragraphs.
Word bank
last weekendlast monthvisitedtravelledmuseumparkbeachmarketfirstnextlaterfinallyinterestingbeautifulenjoyed
Sentence starters
- Last weekend, I visited...
- I went there with...
- First, we...
- Next, we...
- Finally, we...
- I enjoyed the visit because...