Transcript Sentence Structure

Sentence
Structure
Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound/Complex
Simple Sentences
 Simple
verb.
sentences have a subject and a
 Example:
The bag hangs on the hook.
Subject – bag
Verb – hangs
Simple Sentences can be long!
 Example:
soft song.
The little tiny girl sang a sweet
Subject: Girl
Verb: Sang
Simple sentences can contain
a compound subject or a
compound verb!
 Example:
The pears and the peaches
look amazing!
 Subjects: pears and peaches
 Verb: look
 Example: Martin screamed and cried in
the elevator.
 Subject: Martin
 Verbs: screamed and cried
Simple sentence can have a
comma!

EX. On the side of the road, we noticed a lonely shoe.

HINT: Always cross out your prepositional phrases. There will
be a comma if the sentence starts with the prepositional
phrase.

HINT: Cross out infinitive phrases
To + Verb = infinitive



On the side of the road, we noticed a lonely shoe.
She ran to yell at the kids on the bus. to yell = infinitive
Practice of simple sentences
 Write
the sentence down. Label the
subject and verb. Cross out all
prepositional phrases.
 1.
The yellow cab stopped at the light.
 2. At the light, the yellow cab stopped.
 **Do
you see the difference?
More simple sentence
practice.
 Label
subjects and verbs. Cross out the
prepositional and infinitive phrases.
 1.
The little boy and girl cried for candy.
 2. At home, I’m allowed to chew gum.
 3. The young child wrote a beautiful card.
 4. The boys went to the store to buy
candy.
Answers and helpful hints
 1.
The little boy and girl cried for candy.
 2. At home, I’m allowed to chew gum.
This one is tricky – Split contractions - I am
 3.
The young child wrote a beautiful card.
 4. The boys went to the store to buy
candy.
Compound Sentence
 Two
or more independent clauses (simple
sentences) joined together.

or
Look for a semicolon (;)
a comma FANBOYS
FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet)
You will circle these in a sentence to help
identify.
Some examples
 The
young boy ran to the bus. (Simple
Sentence.
 He was running late. (simple sentence)
 The
young boy ran to the bus; he was
late. (compound sentence)
 The young boy ran to the bus, but he was
late. (compound Sentence)
Your turn – Write two compound
sentences - one with a semicolon and
one with a comma FANBOY.
 Follow
these rules.
- Label the subjects
- Label the verbs
- Cross out any prepositional or infinitive
phrases
- Circle the semicolon
- Circle the comma FANBOYS
Complex Sentences
1
independent clause (simple sentence)
and 1 or more subordinate clause.
Subordinate Clause

A subordinate Clause can not stand by itself –
Look for signal words –
Here is a list of common signal words –
While, as, that, because, when, who, if, since,
after.
**Subordinate clauses have VERBS – if it doesn’t
have a verb it is a prepositional phrase. **

Commas with complex
sentences
 If
you start a sentence with a subordinate
clause, you MUST add a comma after the
clause.
 If your subordinate clause is in the middle
or end of the sentence, you do not use a
comma.
 HINT:
NEVER add a comma before
because NEVER!
Your turn
Write a complex sentence with the
subordinate clause at the beginning of the
sentence. ** You will need a comma.
 Then turn the sentence around and put the
subordinate clause at the end of the
sentence. **You won’t use a comma.
Put [brackets ] around your subordinate clause.
Label your subjects and verbs.
 Example: [If you study], you will do well on
the test.
 You will do well on the test if you study.

Compound/Complex
Sentences.
2
or more independent clauses and 1 or
more subordinate clause.
 Example:
 [Since
it is Friday], we will eat pizza, and I
will go to the movies.
 **
always circle the comma FANBOYS
Your turn
 Write
a compound/complex sentence
and label it.
Steps to label
 1.
Cross out all prepositional phrases and
infinitive phrases.
 2. Circle comma Fanboys or semi-colons.
 3. Put brackets around subordinate
clauses.
 4. Label all subjects.
 5. Label all verbs.
Label these sentences

1. On the way home, I noticed a stray cat.

2. I didn’t pick it up because it looked very
sick.

3. The small cat meowed, and my heart
melted.

4. The tiny kitty cuddled in my arms while I
walked home, and I couldn’t wait to show my
little brother.
Answers