Transcript Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

Simple, Compound, and Complex
Sentences
Use a variety of sentences in your writing!
This helps create voice and style!
Simple Sentences
• A simple sentence has one subject and one
predicate or compound subject or predicate.
Example 1: Melanie Edwards lives in Jackson, Mississippi.
One subject. Who/ what the
sentence is about. NOUN
One predicate. VERB.
Example 2: Jeff and I read and enjoy mystery stories.
Two subjects/ Nouns. This is a
“compound subject”.
Two predicates/ Verbs. This is a
“compound predicate”.
Simple Sentences
• Simple sentences are the type of sentences
you currently use the most.
• In your notes, write a simple sentence about
your best friend. Have just one subject/ noun.
• Write another sentence about him/ her using
a compound predicate (two verbs).
Share with your group.
Compound Sentences
• A compound sentence is a sentence containing two or more simple
sentences joined by a comma and a conjunction or by a semicolon.
Example 1: Eudora Welty is a novelist, but she also writes essays.
Simple Sentence #1.
Joined by a comma and a
conjunction. Think of
FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but,
or, yet, so)
Simple Sentence #2.
Example 2: Eudora Welty is a novelist; she also writes essays.
Simple Sentence #1.
Simple Sentence #2.
Joined by a semicolon
instead of a FANBOY.
Compound Sentences
• Compound sentences are a great way to
combine short, choppy sentences in your
writing!
• In your notes, write a compound sentence
about your dream pet. Use FANBOYS.
• Rewrite the same sentence using a semicolon.
Share with your group.
Complex Sentences
• A complex sentence has one or more dependent
clauses and an independent clause.
Complex Sentences
In other words, a dependent clause is a
sentence fragment, a sentence wannabe!
Ex: When Myrtle bowls
There is a subject (Myrtle) and a verb (bowls),
but it’s not complete! Because it can’t stand
alone as a sentence, it is a dependent clause.
Sometimes, you can turn a dependent clause
into an independent clause by taking away the
first word:
Ex. Myrtle bowls.
Complex Sentences
*have 1 independent clause and 1 or more dependent clauses
Example 1: Mariah, who moved here from Montana, is very popular.
Look for subordinating
words like who, since,
after, when, while, if,
before, because, that,
etc.
Dependent Clause: It cannot
stand alone.
** Notice the
commas are used
to separate
them!**
“Mariah is very popular” is the Independent Clause (it can
stand alone).
However, you do not ALWAYS need a comma. For example….
On Halloween, Mr. Tram gave every child who knocked at his door a candied yam.
Nora worried when her date took her to a seafood restaurant and ordered bait.
Subordinating Words
* these make dependent clauses*
After
Although
Before
Because
When
Whenever
Where
While
If
As if
As
Just as
Since
Unless
Until
So that
Wherever
Whatever
That
Who
Whom
Whose
Which
Complex Sentences
*have 1 independent clause and 1 or more dependent clauses
Example 2: Since Mariah moved to Springfield, she has made many new friends.
Subordination
word
DEPENDENT Clause
(cannot stand on it’s own)
Comma!
INDEPENDENT Clause
(could stand on it’s own)
• In your notes, write a complex sentence about your favorite music
group/ person.
Be sure to use COMMAS where needed!
Practice
Label these as S (simple), CD (compound) or CX (complex)
1. Our team didn’t always win, but we always
tried to be good sports.
2. That song, which is often heard on the radio,
was written years ago.
3. Those people who camped here were messy.
4. She crept silently, for she was afraid.
5. A talented artist drew this cartoon.