KINDS OF SENTENCESEnglish 7CPMr. Snow

THE SIMPLE SENTENCE• A. A simple sentence contains

exactly one independent clauseindependent clause.– A good rain will help the farmers.– Up for the rebound leaped Reggie.– Please put it down on the table near the

corner. [You = subject]

THE SIMPLE SENTENCE• A simple sentence may have a

compound subject, compound verb, or both.– Chalupas and fajitas are two popular

Mexican dishes.– Kelly read the book and reported on it.– The dog and the kitten lay there and

napped.

Just wait till he’s

asleep…

Touch me and die, jerkwad.

THE COMPOUND SENTENCE• B. A compound sentence contains

two or more independent clausesindependent clauses.

• These clauses are joined by a comma and conjunction or a semicolon.– Melvina wrote about her mother’s aunt.

+– Leroy wrote about his cousin from Jamaica.

=– Melvina wrote about her mother’s aunt, and

Leroy wrote about his cousin from Jamaica.

THE COMPOUND SENTENCE• Since a compound sentence has two

or more independent clausesindependent clauses, it must have two or more separate subjects and two or more separate verbs.– A variety of fruits and vegetables should be

a part of everyone’s diet; they supply many important vitamins.

– Kathryn’s scene is in the last act of the play, so she waits in the wings for her cue.

– No one was injured in the fire, but several homes were destroyed, and many trees burned down.

THE COMPOUND SENTENCE• Here’s how to know for sure if it’s a

compound sentence: remove the conjunction(s) or semicolon(s), and what remains should be multiple complete sentences.– Charlie Patton was a blues musician; he

founded the Delta Blues, but he died poor and unrecognized.

• Charlie Patton was a blues musician.• He founded the Delta Blues.• He died poor and unrecognized.

SIMPLE OR COMPOUND?• Remember, compound sentences

have two or more SEPARATE subjects and two or more SEPARATE verbs.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE:– Kim and Maureen read each other’s short

stories and made many suggestions.– We visited the museum and studied the art.

• COMPOUND SENTENCE:– Kim and Maureen read each other’s short

stories, and they made many suggestions.– We visited the museum, and we studied the

art.

THE COMPOUND SENTENCE– Charlie Patton founded the Delta Blues but

died poor and unrecognized.• Charlie Patton founded the Delta Blues.• Died poor and unrecognized.

– This is just a simple sentence with a compound verb.

THE COMPLEX SENTENCE• C. The complex sentence contains

exactly one independent clauseindependent clause and at least one subordinate clausesubordinate clause..– Remember that an independent clauseindependent clause

can stand by itself, and a subordinate subordinate clauseclause cannot.

– All clauses, however, have a subject and a verb.

THE COMPLEX SENTENCE– The boy who left is my cousin.The boy who left is my cousin.

• The boy is my cousin = independentThe boy is my cousin = independent• who left = subordinatewho left = subordinate

– When I hear classical music, I think of Aunt When I hear classical music, I think of Aunt Sofia.Sofia.

– One interesting annual event that is held in One interesting annual event that is held in the Southwest is the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, the Southwest is the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, which involves many different American which involves many different American Indian peoples.Indian peoples.

• Notice that if you took out the subordinate clause(s)subordinate clause(s), you’d still have a complete sentence.

THE COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE• D. The compound-complex sentence

contains two or more independent independent clausesclauses and at least one subordinate subordinate clause.clause.– She wasn’t happy to be thereShe wasn’t happy to be there, but Clarissa Clarissa

was pulled onto the floor for a dance that was pulled onto the floor for a dance that was starting.was starting.

– Whenever we go on vacation, our Whenever we go on vacation, our neighbors mow our lawnneighbors mow our lawn, and they collect they collect our mail.our mail.

– Since you’re not here, I invited over my Since you’re not here, I invited over my friend Joey, who lives down the street, friend Joey, who lives down the street, and we’re going to have a party.we’re going to have a party.

FIN