Transcript Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences in Your Writing

Grammar
9/28/15
Writing
Warm
Up
Directions:
 Take out a piece of paper.
 Do NOT write your name at the top.
 Write a paragraph describing one of your shoes.
 Describe your shoe in as much detail as possible
WITHOUT writing down the name brand of the
shoe.
Simple, Compound, Complex
and Compound-Complex
Sentences in Your Writing
Learning Target
 I can use varied syntax to link major
sections of my writing.
 This means I can use the four different
types of sentence structures in my response
to make my writing more interesting and
cohesive.
Once a writer knows the
difference among the four sentence
types (simple, compound, complex,
and compound-complex), it is
possible to write with sentence
variety.
Simple Sentence
 Contains a subject and a verb.
 Expresses a single complete thought.
 Composed of one independent clause.
 An independent clause can stand by itself.
Sample Simple Sentences
 The cat crept through the dark house.
 The wary mouse watched from underneath
an upturned cereal box.
 The predatory cat stopped and surveyed his
surroundings.
 The mouse darted for the safety of the
nearly invisible hole under the cabinet.
Compound Sentences
 Contains two independent clauses.
 Conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
join these independent clauses.
 Hint: The conjunctions spell FANBOYS.
Sample Compound Sentences
 The cat was unsuccessful in his attempt to
catch the mouse, and the mouse was not
able to get the cheese.
 The dog had watched all of this, but he
refused to become involved.
 The mouse could wait until dark, or he
could risk a daylight raid on the pantry.
 The cat usually slept during the day, yet
curiosity held him at the corner of the
kitchen.
Complex Sentences
 An independent clause joined by one or
more dependent clauses.
 A subordinating conjunction begins the
dependent clauses.
 A dependent clause that begins a sentence
must be followed by a comma.
 A dependent clause has a subject and a
verb, but it does not make sense on its own.
Subordinating Conjunctions
after
although
as
in order that
at least
now that
wherever
while
before
even though
how
if
in as much
when
whenever
whereas
as though
because
even if
though
until
unless
as if
as long as
as much as
soon
since
so that
that
Sample Complex Sentences
 After he gave it some thought, the mouse
decided to wait until later for his walk.
 The cat fell asleep on the warm kitchen
floor because he was deprived of sleep the
night before.
 When the mouse heard the soft snoring of
his sleeping nemesis, he scurried to the
pantry and grabbed enough food for a week.
Compound-Complex Sentences
 has at least two independent clauses and at
least one dependent clause.
 The same subordinating conjunctions are
used to introduce the dependent clauses.
 The same coordinating conjunctions
(FANBOYS) are used for joining the
independent clauses.
Sample Compound-Complex
Sentences.
 After the two adversaries had spent years playing
this “cat and mouse” game, they were joined by
their children, and the fun continued.
 Even though it seems the two were bent on the
other’s destruction, the cat and mouse were rather
fond of one another, and neither wanted the other’s
defeat.
 This game was begun thousands of years ago, and
it will continue far into the future as other cats and
mice revel in hide-and-seek.
Practice – Simple, Compound, Complex, or
Compound-Complex?
1. Juan played football while Jane went shopping.
2. Juan played football, and Jim played baseball.
3. Although Central High has a better team, they lost the
tournament, and their more aggressive style did not pay
off.
4. Naomi passed the test because she studied hard, but Stacy
did not understand the material.
5. I love living in Kentucky.
Practice Answers
1. Complex
2. Compound
3. Compound-Complex
4. Compound – Complex
5. Simple
Shoe Activity
 Take off your shoes and put them in the front of
the room.
 Everyone will receive a description of a shoe (not
your own).
 I will call one table to the front of the room at a
time, and you will be given three minutes to find
the correct shoe and return it to your classmate.
Mini Quiz
 Directions: Transform this simple sentence
into a compound, complex, and compoundcomplex sentence.
 Simple Sentence: Jack and Jill went up the
hill to fetch a pail of water.
 1. Compound 2. Complex 3. Compound-Complex-
Fictional Writing Prompt 9/28/15
 Glue in the image
 Write at least a one-page fictional story using the
image as your inspiration
 Remember to write about: setting, character names,
conflict, & a solution
 Skip lines
 Write & label :
– 5 simple sentences: RED
– 4 compound sentences: GREEN
– 3 complex sentences: YELLOW
– 2 compound-complex sentences: BLUE