The Joy of Sentences

SimpleCompoundComplex

Compound-Complex

Simple sentences

Are about primarily just one thing Can have commas Can have multiple subjects and verbs EX: The dog is brown. EX: In the morning, you will eat bread. EX: Sue and Mary bought and sold

some tickets.

Compound Sentences

Comprised of two independent clauses (have a subject and verb)

Can be joined in three ways With a comma and a conjunction With a semicolon With a semicolon, conjunction AND

a comma

For Example

Susan bought some milk, and Joe bought some cookies.

The dog wanted some meat; the cat ate her catfood.

The sun shone brightly; however, the rain came in the next day.

The boy took a picture, and developed it at home.

Complex Sentences

Made up of an independent clause AND a dependent clause (remember, dependent clauses have a s/v, but they can’t stand alone)

If the dependent clause starts the sentence, follow it with a comma.

If the independent clause comes first, no comma.

For example

When the Georgia Bulldogs win on Saturday, Ms. Smith will be very happy!

Ms. Smith will be very happy when the Georgia Bulldogs win on Saturday.

I love ice cream, because it is yummy.

Avoiding Clause Confusion

Types of Clauses

Adjective clauses – Are dependent clauses** that follow the nouns or pronouns that they modify

Often begin with who, whom, whose, which, that

**Remember, a clause has both a subject and a verb

Examples…

The girl who broke her leg came back to school today for the first time.

FIND the Clause…tell me what it is modifying

In the morning, the teacher that is giving all the kids F’s will be fired.

Adverb Clauses

A dependent clause** that is used as an adverb

Begin with subordinating conjunctions such as…

after although as as if wherebecause Before ifSince than though unlessUntil when whenever

while

Complex Examples

While the band played their music, the couples slowly danced on the floor.

The team that won the Little League World series is from Columbus.

We will swim when the sun comes out. My favorite book, which is a classic

novel, was made into a film.

REVIEW

Simple…have commas after prep phrases

Compound…two IC’s joined by a comma/conjunction or a semi colon

Complex…IC and a DC…if DC comes first, then follow it with a comma. If the IC comes first, then no comma.

CP-CX Complex sentence joined with a compound one