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Complex SentencesEng

lish

– M

s. S

ecko

© Boardworks Ltd 20062 of 22

Contents


Simple sentences

Compound sentences

The subordinate clause

Relative and adverbial clauses

Writing complex sentences


Complex sentences: Simple sentences


Simple sentences


Different types of sentences

Hi Max, do you want to revise with me for Friday’s sentence test?

Yeah sure Megan. I want to test my knowledge to make sure that I score 100%...

Well I want to do well too. I’m going to become a famous novelist, so I need good writing skills.


Can you remember the differences between simple and compound sentences?

Simple sentences contain a subject, a verb and an object. Simple sentences make sense on their own, e.g.

I like tea.

Subject Verb Object

Simple sentences

Let’s quickly recap basic sentences…


Read the sentences below:

1. John loves television.

2. My brother eats worms.

3. Norman picks his nose.

Decide which words are the verbs, subjects and objects in the sentences.

verb

subject

object

Subject, verb, object revision


Complex sentences: Compound sentences


Compound sentences


Compound sentences

Compound sentences are simple sentences which have been joined together by the conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so. (You can also use a “however” if you know how.)

Now let’s revise compound sentences…

I like tea. I like coffee.

These are two simple sentences.

They can be joined to form a compound sentence:

I like tea, and I like coffee.


Simple and compound sentences


Practice 1

•1. On Saturday we ate French toast.

❑ Simple Compound❑

•2. Anne liked her doll and book best.

❑ Simple Compound ❑

•3. The rabbit went under the fence, and the wolf could not follow it.


•4. Once every year Grant writes his teacher a thank you note for her help. Simple Compound ❑ ❑

•5. The sun set, and the moon rose.



Practice 2

6. I can’t come over, for it’s after bedtime.


7. Every Wednesday the car drives down the road, and everyone runs.


8. We try to do our best in everything we do; however, we don’t always succeed.


9. The chair rocked back and forth, and the windows slammed shut.


10. Who ate the last donut on the counter?



Complex sentences: The subordinate clause





Now we need to understand the tricky part – complex sentences...

Look at the three sentences below:

1. Mr Farrell, who is our English teacher, always gives great lessons.

2. Liverpool, which is where I live, is an amazing city.

3. I hate my woolly jumper that my granny bought for me.

Compare the sentences without the highlighted words…

1. Mr Farrell always gives great lessons.

2. Liverpool is an amazing city.

3. I hate my woolly jumper.

Do the extra words make any difference?


Mr Farrell is an English teacher

the speaker lives in Liverpool

the jumper was bought by the subject’s granny.

The purpose of the subordinate clause

The extra words provide us with additional information about the subject, verb or object…

They tell us that…

1. Mr Farrell, who is our English teacher, always gives great lessons.2. Liverpool, which is where I live, is an amazing city.3. I hate my woolly jumper that my granny bought for me.


The main and most important idea in the sentence is called the INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (or) main clause. (This makes sense on its own.)

The additional information is called the subordinate clause. (This clause would not make sense on its own.)

Types of clauses

Mr Farrell, who is our English teacher, always gives great lessons.Mr Farrell, who is our English teacher, always gives great lessons.Mr Farrell, who is our English teacher, always gives great lessons.

When the subordinate clause splits the main clause down the middle, commas are used to show the boundaries between them.

The sentence below is a complex sentence.


Spotting different clauses

Can you identify different clauses?

Read each sentence carefully. Identify the independent or main clause and the

subordinate clause.

Can you identify different clauses?

Read each sentence carefully. Identify the independent or main clause and the

subordinate clause.


Spotting Clauses – Practice 1

Find the Subordinate Clause

1. After John caught the fish, Kelly caught one also.

2. The prince and his knights rode into the valley because the dragon had burned the village.

3. If Louise goes to the store, she will be late for the movie.

4. I like to eat lunch outside when the sun is shining.

5. The ball bounced into the hole where Casey and Robert could not reach it.


Spotting Clauses – Practice 2

6. Since his car broke down, Mr. Evans rides the bus to work.

7. In Paris, the French boy played on the bridge until his mother called him home.

8. While the family slept, the mouse ran through the kitchen and ate the bread.

9. On his birthday Adam received a football, which he traded for a baseball bat.

10. Unless you have another idea, we will play Will’s game this afternoon.

11. John, who has been my friend for years, will be joining us for pizza.

12. The book that is sitting on the shelf is my favorite.

13. The movie that is playing tonight costs twelve dollars.


Complex sentences: Relative and adverbial clauses


Relative &

Adverbial Clauses8th Grade ONLY


Okay, so a sentence with a main clause and a subordinate clause is known as a…

complex sentence

Complex sentences

e.g. John walked by the canal that was full of barges.

main clause subordinate clause

Do you know what sort of word ‘that’ is?

8th Grade ONLY


Functions of Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses can be used for different purposes:

Relative clauses provide more detail about nouns. (Common relative pronouns = who, which and that.)

The food that we ate for the holidays was delicious.

I really like the food that we ate for the holidays.e.g.

Relative clauses are used in the middle or at the end of sentences.

8th Grade


Function of Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses can be used for different purposes:

Adverbial clauses describe verbs in more detail.

(Common adverbs = as soon as, before, after, etc.)

e.g.Before he started work, Roger fed his pet cat.

Roger fed his pet before he started work.

As soon as I get home, I will unload the groceries.

I will unload the groceries as soon as I get home.

Adverbial clauses can be used anywhere in the sentence.

8th Grade


Adverbial & Relative Clauses 8th Grade


Complex sentences: Writing complex sentences


Writing Complex Sentences7th & 8th Grade Unit



•,

Decide if these sentences are simple (Sp), compound (Cd), or complex (Cx). Circle the correct box on the right.Decide if these sentences are simple (Sp), compound (Cd), or complex (Cx). Circle the correct box on the right.

1. Lei hates swimming in the sea.

2. I lost my music CD that Megan lent me last week.

3. Tom enjoys reading; however, he also enjoys playing sports.

4. Manchester United FC, who has the best players, is the best soccer club in the world.

5. Max eats lots of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.



•,


1. When you get home, cook dinner.

2. After playing soccer, John needed a break.

3. I will visit my grandmother’s house on Sunday in the afternoon.

4. I want to get an A on my next test.

5. I studied late last night, and my dad told me I should go to bed.



•,


1. My teacher, who likes soccer, wants everyone to do well on the test.

2. Did John get lost, or did John get home?

3. Next week, Matt will start football.

4. I want my friend to visit me.

5. He visits his relatives when it’s a major holiday.



•,


1. If teachers recycled, there would be less waste.

2. Make sure you rinse out containers that you recycle.

3. Students who may never experience recycling could learn about it.

4. Since our landfills are getting full, our school doesn’t need to contribute to the problem.

5. I recycle because it is the right thing to do.


Look at the picture of Megan. Write five complex sentences using subordinate clauses. Use these details:

name: Megan

owns: a pet tarantula called Mogg

species: Mogg is a Chilean Rose

wears: hooded tops, patterned tights and boots

hair colour: red

ambition: to become a writer.

Writing complex sentences

Remember: introduce relative clauses with relative pronouns and adverbial clauses with adverbs.


Using Simple, Compound, & Complex sentences

Let’s recap when to use simple, compound and complex sentences…

Simple and compound sentences are useful to be brief:

in emergency instructions

to teach young children

for someone who can’t read much English.

Complex sentences are useful to be descriptive:

to explain something in detail

to be precise about what you are describing

to keep your reader interested.

© boardworks ltd 2006 1 of 22 © boardworks ltd 2006 teacher’s notes included in the notes page...

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simple sentences boardworks

compound sentences boardworks

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basic sentences

different types of sentences

contents boardworks

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