Sentence Structure

There will be a Sentence Structure Quiz this Friday, November 22nd.

Sentence Structure

There are four different sentence structures:

(1) simple, (2) compound, (3) complex, and (4) compound-complex.

Sentence Structure

Make sure you use the correct abbreviation for each type.

Add the following to the front of your graphic organizer.

(1) simple -- ss

(2) compound -- cd

(3) complex -- cx

(4) compound-complex -- cd-cx

Simple Sentences

Simple Sentences have ONE independent clause and NO subordinate (or dependent) clauses.

Remember: An independent clause expresses a complete thought, so it can stand alone. A subordinate clause (also known as a dependent clause) cannot, so it’s dependent on the rest of the sentence to make sense.

Additional Notes

Simple sentences may have

• compound subjects

• compound verbs

• and sometimes even BOTH

Simple sentences may also have

• prepositional phrases too

Simple Sentences

Examples: 1. The baby threw his bottle.

2. Bradley and Anna-Scott love to swim. (compound subject)

3. McDaniel still sleeps and eats a lot. (compound verb)

4. The teacher and the student entered and won the contest. (compound subject AND compound verb)

5. You are a student on the 7th grade Blue Team at

Oak Mountain Middle School. (prepositional phrases)

Simple Sentences

Now you try!

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence has TWO or MORE independent clauses but NO subordinate clauses.

Additional Notes

The independent clauses are joined by either a semicolon (;) or a comma (,) plus a coordinating conjunction.

Additional Notes

Coordinating conjunctions can be remembered like this:

F A N B O Y S O N O U R E O

R D R T T

(for and nor but or yet so)

Compound Sentences

Examples:

1. Riverchase led half of the game, but Oak Mountain was victorious.

2. I wanted to go to the gala, but I did not have a date.

3. Oak Mountain Middle School has hard-working students; their teachers expect a lot of them.

Notice:

There must be an independent clause on either side of the semicolon or the comma/conjunction.

Compound Sentences

There must be an independent clause on either side of the semicolon or the comma/conjunction.

1. [ Riverchase led half of the game] , but [ Oak Mountain was victorious] .

2. [ I wanted to go to the gala] , but [ I did not have a date].

3. [ Oak Mountain Middle School has hard-working students]; [ their teachers expect a lot of them].

Compound Sentences

NOW YOU TRY!

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence has ONE independent clause and AT LEAST ONE subordinate clause.

Think back to Friday’s test on Clauses. Every sentence that had an adjective clause or adverb clause in it was a COMPLEX sentence.

Additional Notes

Continue to look for RELATIVE PRONOUNS in your sentences as well as SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS.

Complex Sentences

Examples:

1. I am not a morning person [when I first wake up].

2. [Because I forgot the tickets], we had to turn around.

3. The laundry [that is in the dryer] needs to be folded.

Complex Sentences

NOW YOU TRY!

Compound-Complex Sentences

A compound-complex sentence has TWO OR MORE independent clauses and AT LEAST ONE subordinate clause.

Additional Notes

A compound-complex sentence contains elements of BOTH a COMPOUND and a COMPLEX sentence.

Compound-Complex Sentences

So look for a sentence that has a comma plus a conjunction AND a subordinating conjunction, for example.

I was weak, and I was tired because I had been so sick with the stomach flu.

Compound-Complex Sentences

Another example:

Before we left for the game, I had to ask my mom for money, but she yelled that she was broke.

You have two independent clauses and one subordinate clause.

Compound-Complex Sentences

NOW YOU TRY!