SIMPLE/COMPOUND/

COMPLEX SENTENCES

Ms. Christie

2013-2014

SENTENCES Sentences are groups of words that

have a subject and a predicate.

Sentences express a complete thought.

EX: Ms. Christie spills her coffee daily.

SIMPLE SENTENCES A simple sentence has one complete

subject and one complete predicate.

Complete Subject: Names whom or what the sentence is about.

Complete Predicate: Tells what the subject does or has or what the subject is or is like.

SIMPLE SENTENCESComplete Subject Complete Predicate

Some people travel.

Neither cars nor jets are completely safe.

Trains and buses carry passengers and transport luggage.

Freight trains transport products to various cities.

SIMPLE SENTENCE EXAMPLES Most students are super awesome

humans.

Most students are super awesome humans.

complete subject complete predicate

COMPOUND SENTENCES A compound sentence is a sentence

that contains two or more connected simple sentences. Each simple sentence in a compound sentence is a called a main clause.

A main clause has a subject and predicate and can stand alone as a sentence.

COMPOUND SENTENCES Many people find baby pigs adorable,

and many others enjoy dressing pigs in outfits.

Many people find baby pigs adorable, and many others enjoy dressing pigs in outfits.

COMPOUND SENTENCE EXAMPLES Millions of people live in the cities, but

many others reside in the suburbs.

Most people travel to work, and many of them use public transportation.

Helicopters can be used to monitor traffic conditions, or computers can more accurately predict traveling time.

COMMA RULE Which comma rule comes into play with

compound sentences? And-but-or? Put the comma before!

Millions of people live in the cities, but many others reside in the suburbs.

Most people travel to work, and many of them use public transportation.

Helicopters can be used to monitor traffic conditions, or computers can more accurately predict traveling time.

COMMA RULE CONTINUED If no ‘and-but-or’, use a semicolon to

join sentences.

People take trains, buses, and cars; some even fly.

SIMPLE/COMPOUND PRACTICE The state of Illinois lies below Wisconsin. Simple In 2001, a very important person

graduated from Homer Junior High School.

Simple She went on to become a teacher, and

she came back to teach at Homer Junior High School.

Compound

COMPLEX SENTENCES Main Clause (simple sentence) is what?

Has a subject and predicate and can stand alone as its own sentence.

Subordinate Clause:A group of words that has a subject and a

predicate but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate clause is always combined with a main clause in a sentence.

COMPLEX SENTENCES A complex sentence is a sentence that

has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Student friendly: A complex sentence has one main clause/simple sentence and one clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence.

EX: When the sun set, the caravans stopped for the night.

Subordinate Clause Main Clause

COMPLEX SENTENCES Complex sentences are usually

punctuated with a comma between the main clause and the subordinate clause.

The main clause or the subordinate clause can come first in the sentence.

When the dependent clause comes first, you use a comma. When it comes second, don’t use a comma.

COMPLEX SENTENCES Compound sentences have the words

and, but, or that connect the thoughts. Complex sentences use the following

words:after although as because before even though if since

though unless until when whenever whereas wherever while

COMPLEX SENTENCE PRACTICE Because I went to the store yesterday, I

have a delightful tofu salad for lunch.

Because I went to the store yesterday, I have a delightful tofu salad for lunch.

Subordinate clause Because I went to the store yesterday, I

have a delightful tofu salad for lunch.

Main Clause*This is a complex sentence

SIMPLE OR COMPLEX? After I came home, I ate dinner. Complex After I came home, I ate dinner. I usually like to go to the mall. Simple Before the museum closed, we visited our

favorite exhibit. Complex Before the museum closed, we visited our

favorite exhibit. I love going to the museum in the summer. Simple

COMPLEX OR COMPOUND? Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus

station before noon, and they left on the bus before I arrived.

Compound Because Mary and Samantha arrived at

the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.

Complex

SIMPLE/COMPLEX/COMPOUND? Joe waited for the train. Simple Joe waited for the train, but it was late. Compound While he waited for the train, Joe

realized it was late. Complex

SIMPLE/COMPOUND/COMPLEX CHEAT SHEET Simple Sentence: One complete subject, one

complete predicate Compound Sentence: Two simple

sentences/main clauses combined with FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) and a comma OR a semicolon.

Complex Sentence: One simple sentence/main clause and one subordinate clause that is combined using these words: after, although, as, because, before, even though, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, wherever, while.