Kinds of Sentence Structure

Simple, Compound & Complex Sentences

Simple Sentence

•A simple sentence contains

one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

EXAMPLES

•The burrito burned me.

•The snail slid across Brynlee’s face.

•During the movie, Davin ate a bag of buttered popcorn.

What if there is a conjunction?• Conjunctions are words that connect. • FANBOYS• FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO • (CONJUNCTION JUNCTION)

•I am

EXAMPLE

• Izzy and Summer barked at the stranger.

•Ms. Arizona ate breakfast but forgot to brush her teeth.

SIMPLE SENTENCES CAN HAVE:

MORE THAN ONE SUBJECT ORMORE THAN ONE VERB

** Key **• A simple sentence may have (2 or more) subjects

•At the movies, Brooke and Katelyn spilled popcorn on Austin.

Or 2 or more verbs

•The rattlesnake squeezed the rat and then swallowed it.

Break into 2 Parts• The rattlesnake squeezed the rat and then swallowed it.• 1st – Break sentence at and• The rattlesnake squeezed the rat.• Then swallowed it • (can’t stand on its own – no subject)• Squeezed & swallowed• Same thing did both - rattlesnake

More• Summer and Moses laid in the sun and napped on the back

porch.

Why is this sentence a simple sentence?Where split? Subjects and verbs?

Summer and Moses laid in the sun and napped on the back porch.

• Split at second and. • Summer and Moses laid in the sun (independent clause)• And napped on the back porch (can’t stand on its own – no subject)• Verbs = laid and napped• Subjects = Summer and Moses

Remember the definition for a simple sentence.

•A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no dependent clauses. It can stand on its own.

What does compound mean?•Aron Ralston had a compound fracture in his arm before he severed it.

•Two broken bones

As a result, what is a compound sentence?

Compound Sentences

• When 2 or more independent clauses are joined together that are related. No dependent clauses.These 2 clauses are usually connected by a conjunction. You need a comma to separate the IC Clauses.

• The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, for, or, nor, yet or so.

More compound sentences.

Sully smacked her brother, for he pulled her hair.

Korbin pulled the unconscious puppy from the pool, and it survived.

Brycyn injured his ribs, yet he still surfed the next day.

On a dare Mercedes ate a jalapeno, so she drank a gallon of Madison’s milk.

Which one is the Compound Sentence?A. The i-Pod crashed to the floor and broke

B. The I-Pod crashed to the floor, and it broke

Compound Sentence• Each clause can stand by itself.• Split at conjunction - and

•The I-Pod crashed to the floor.

• It broke

Another Example

• During the picnic Emma played volleyball, Josh caught a 10 pound catfish, and Chase won several games of horseshoes.

Compound Sentence

Each clause can stand by itself.

During the picnic Emma played volleyball.Josh caught a 10 pound catfish.Chase won several games of horseshoes.

Compound Sentences• When 2 or more independent clauses are joined together

that are related. Also, there can not be a dependent clause.

• These 2 clauses are usually connected by a conjunction.

• The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, for, or, nor, yet or so.

Simple or Compound?

• A. Collin & Gage ate worms and became sick.• B. Collin & Gage ate worms, and they became sick.

• C. Logan fell off the table, yet he kept his balance.• D. Logan fell off the table and kept his balance.

Simple or Compound?

• A. Collin & Gage ate worms and became sick. S• B. Collin & Gage ate worms, and they became sick. C

• C. Logan fell off the table, yet he kept his balance. C• D. Logan fell off the table and kept his balance. S

Complex Sentence• Remember the 2 types of clauses.• Independent (Main Clause) – Has a subject & a

verb & can stand by itself.• Dependent (Subordinate Clause) – Has a subject &

a verb, but does not express a complete thought.• Based on this what do you think a complex

sentence is?

You Guessed it!

•A complex sentence is comprised of an independent clause & a dependent clause.•Example:

•After Alex ate breakfast, he took a shower.

Here is another example:

Sweat poured down the pilot’s face until he landed the plane safely.

Here is another example:

Sweat poured down the pilot’s face until he landed the plane safely. Purple = Independent Clause

Red = Dependent Clause

Words That often Connect• Independent and Dependent Clauses to Create a Complex

Sentence. They are known as coordinating conjunctions.

• After Although As• Because Before Despite• Even though If Since• Unless Until When • Whenever Whereas Wherever• While

Two More Examples:

Complex Sentence 1

• Sadie won the race although she stumbled at the start of it.

Complex Sentence 2

• The million dollar painting, when it fell off the wall, • was ruined during the

earthquake.

Are the following complex sentences?• 1.After the game, Ryder walked home. 2. After Ryder made the game winning shot, he walked home.

3. The python swam quickly when it saw the alligator.• 4. The python swam quickly after seeing the alligator.

5. Since Logan smashed his finger with the hammer, he jumped up and down.

6. Logan smashed his finger with the hammer and jumped up and down.

Are the following complex sentences?• 1.After the game, Ryder walked home. No 2. After Ryder made the game winning shot, he walked home.

Yes

3. The python swam quickly when it saw the alligator. Yes• 4. The python swam quickly after seeing the alligator. No

5. Since Logan smashed his finger with the hammer, he jumped up and down. Yes

6. Logan smashed his finger with the hammer and jumped up and down. No

Simple, Compound, or Complex?

S, C, or CX?•Although he is a novice guitarist, Gavin earned a scholarship at New York School for the Arts.

S, C, or cx?• Chase and Matt flew to

Dallas and went to the Super Bowl.

• During the chase, the octopus squirted ink, so it was able to escape from the shark.

Simple, Compound, or Complex?

S, C, or CX?•Although he is a novice guitarist, Gavin earned a scholarship at New York School for the Arts. CX

S, C, or cx?• Chase and Matt flew to

Dallas and went to the Super Bowl. S

• During the chase, the octopus squirted ink, so it was able to escape from the shark. C

Simple or Complex?• Before chewing the butter drenched snail, Julia threw it at her

brother.

• When Mrs. Mrs. Miller looked down, she saw an 8 inch scorpion emerge from her cabinet.

Simple or Complex?• Before chewing the butter drenched snail, Julia threw it at her

brother. Simple… • Before chewing the butter • drenched snail.. (no subject)

• When Mrs. Mrs. Miller looked down, she saw an 8 inch scorpion emerge from her cabinet.