Building SentencesBuilding Sentences

The only lesson you will ever need The only lesson you will ever need to write correct, complete to write correct, complete

sentencessentences

Being a good Writer is like being a Being a good Writer is like being a good Architect… who has only good Architect… who has only

FOUR basic house plansFOUR basic house plans SimpleSimple

CompoundCompound

ComplexComplex

Compound-Complex Compound-Complex

Four Blueprints = Four Sentence PatternsFour Blueprints = Four Sentence Patterns

No matter how many sentences you writeNo matter how many sentences you writeNo matter how many sentences you readNo matter how many sentences you readNo matter how long or short these may beNo matter how long or short these may beThere are only FOUR basic patterns or There are only FOUR basic patterns or

blueprints for all the sentences you will blueprints for all the sentences you will needneed

EVER!EVER!

The Simple SentenceThe Simple Sentence

One independent clause (group of One independent clause (group of wordswords)… one, single family house)… one, single family house

Stands alone & makes senseStands alone & makes sense… a stand alone … a stand alone structurestructure

Has a Subject and a Verb Has a Subject and a Verb … a foundation and … a foundation and roofroof

The Simple SentenceThe Simple SentenceSubject + VerbSubject + Verb

Subject Subject VerbVerb

A person, place, or thingA person, place, or thing

John John

BoyBoy

StudentStudent

Shows action or a state Shows action or a state of being (I am!)of being (I am!)

reads reads

liveslives

waveswaves

The Simple SentenceThe Simple Sentence

John reads.John reads.

John reads novels.John reads novels.

John reads novels and newspapers.John reads novels and newspapers.

John reads and enjoys novels and John reads and enjoys novels and newspapers.newspapers.

Size does NOT always matter!

The Compound SentenceThe Compound Sentence

A A COMPOUND SENTENCE COMPOUND SENTENCE has two has two independent clauses or “mini sentences”independent clauses or “mini sentences”

It’s like TWO houses joined togetherIt’s like TWO houses joined together

                        

Independent clause + Independent clause    Independent clause + Independent clause                      +

Simple + Simple = CompoundSimple + Simple = Compound

John reads novels, John reads novels, andand he reads he reads newspapers.newspapers.

John reads novels; John reads novels; howevehowever, he prefers r, he prefers newspapers.newspapers.

John reads novelsJohn reads novels;; he reads he reads newspapers.    newspapers.    

The Complex SentenceThe Complex Sentence

A A COMPLEX SENTENCE COMPLEX SENTENCE has one has one inindependent clause joined to a joined to a dependent clause..

  One, single family house + a lean to that cannot One, single family house + a lean to that cannot stand alone           stand alone          

    

+

SimpleSimple (Independent) (Independent) + Lean to+ Lean to (dependent) (dependent) = Complex= Complex

The Simple, independent clause is the “house”…it’s in The Simple, independent clause is the “house”…it’s in REDRED

Although John reads novels, Although John reads novels, Tom prefers Tom prefers comics.comics.

Tom reads comicsTom reads comics although John reads novels. although John reads novels. TomTom, who reads comics, , who reads comics, rarely reads novels.rarely reads novels.

The dependent clause is the “lean to”…it’s in The dependent clause is the “lean to”…it’s in GREENGREEN

Although John reads novelsAlthough John reads novels, , Tom prefers Tom prefers comics.comics.

Tom reads comicsTom reads comics although John reads although John reads novels.novels.

TomTom, , who reads comicswho reads comics, , rarely reads rarely reads novelsnovels

+

The Compound-Complex SentenceThe Compound-Complex Sentence

A Compound Sentence A Compound Sentence Independent clause + Independent clause + Independent clause    Independent clause                     

++ A Complex Sentence A Complex Sentence Independent clause + Independent clause + Dependent clause   Dependent clause   

______________________________________      = =            

John, John, who reads novelswho reads novels, rarely reads comics; , rarely reads comics; however, Tom enjoys comics.however, Tom enjoys comics.

Compound-Complex SentencesCompound-Complex Sentences Have more partsHave more parts Are simply a combination of two “blueprints” you already know how to build! Are simply a combination of two “blueprints” you already know how to build! 

The Building Blocks of All The Building Blocks of All Sentences!Sentences!

SIMPLESIMPLE COMPOUNDCOMPOUND

COMPLEXCOMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEXCOMPOUND-COMPLEX

Which “blueprint” is it?

Blueprint # 1The SIMPLE sentence

One independent clause

Blueprint # 2The COMPOUND sentence

One independent clause+

One independent clause

Blueprint # 3The COMPLEX sentence

One independent clause +

One dependent clause

Blueprint # 4The COMPOUND-COMPLEX sentence

One independent clause+

One independent Clause+

One (or more) dependent clauses

Mr. Potato head eats monkeys,

but his wife prefers kittens.

Whenever Marta ate pintobeans, she got terrible

flatulence.

Mr. Potato Head eats monkeys.

Lizzie Borden, who supposedlyhacked her parents to death,was acquitted of the murders,but her neighbors remained

suspicious of her..

Work with a PartnerWork with a Partner

Sort the following sentences on your handout into Simple, Sort the following sentences on your handout into Simple,

Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex. Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex.

Work with only ONE other person; share your notes to help Work with only ONE other person; share your notes to help one another.one another.

For the answers…For the answers…

The Answers…The Answers…