Sentence Structure Simple CompoundComplexCompound/Complex

Simple Sentences Simple sentences have a subject and a

verb.

Example: The bag hangs on the hook. Subject – bagVerb – hangs

Simple Sentences can be long!

Example: The little tiny girl sang a sweet soft song.

Subject: GirlVerb: Sang

Simple sentences can contain a compound subject or a compound verb! Example: The pears and the peaches

look amazing! Subjects: pears and peaches Verb: look Example: Martin screamed and cried in

the elevator. Subject: Martin Verbs: screamed and cried

Simple sentence can have a comma! EX. On the side of the road, we noticed a lonely shoe.

HINT: Always cross out your prepositional phrases. There will be a comma if the sentence starts with the prepositional phrase.

HINT: Cross out infinitive phrases To + Verb = infinitive

On the side of the road, we noticed a lonely shoe. She ran to yell at the kids on the bus. to yell =

infinitive

Practice of simple sentences Write the sentence down. Label the

subject and verb. Cross out all prepositional phrases.

1. The yellow cab stopped at the light. 2. At the light, the yellow cab stopped.

**Do you see the difference?

More simple sentence practice.

Label subjects and verbs. Cross out the prepositional and infinitive phrases.

1. The little boy and girl cried for candy. 2. At home, I’m allowed to chew gum. 3. The young child wrote a beautiful

card. 4. The boys went to the store to buy

candy.

Answers and helpful hints

1. The little boy and girl cried for candy. 2. At home, I’m allowed to chew gum.This one is tricky – Split contractions - I am

3. The young child wrote a beautiful card.

4. The boys went to the store to buy candy.

Compound Sentence Two or more independent clauses (simple

sentences) joined together.

Look for a semicolon (;) or a comma FANBOYS

FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet) You will circle these in a sentence to help identify.

Some examples The young boy ran to the bus. (Simple

Sentence. He was running late. (simple sentence)

The young boy ran to the bus; he was late. (compound sentence)

The young boy ran to the bus, but he was late. (compound Sentence)

Your turn – Write two compound sentences - one with a semicolon and one with a comma FANBOY.

Follow these rules. - Label the subjects - Label the verbs - Cross out any prepositional or infinitive phrases - Circle the semicolon - Circle the comma FANBOYS

Complex Sentences 1 independent clause (simple sentence)

and 1 or more subordinate clause.

Subordinate Clause A subordinate Clause can not stand by itself –

Look for signal words –

Here is a list of common signal words –While, as, that, because, when, who, if, since, after.**Subordinate clauses have VERBS – if it doesn’t have a verb it is a prepositional phrase. **

Commas with complex sentences

If you start a sentence with a subordinate clause, you MUST add a comma after the clause.

If your subordinate clause is in the middle or end of the sentence, you do not use a comma.

HINT: NEVER add a comma before because NEVER!

Your turn Write a complex sentence with the subordinate

clause at the beginning of the sentence. ** You will need a comma.

Then turn the sentence around and put the subordinate clause at the end of the sentence. **You won’t use a comma.

Put [brackets ] around your subordinate clause. Label your subjects and verbs. Example: [If you study], you will do well on the

test. You will do well on the test if you study.

Compound/Complex Sentences. 2 or more independent clauses and 1 or

more subordinate clause.

Example: [Since it is Friday], we will eat pizza, and

I will go to the movies.

** always circle the comma FANBOYS

Your turn

Write a compound/complex sentence and label it.

Steps to label 1. Cross out all prepositional phrases

and infinitive phrases. 2. Circle comma Fanboys or semi-

colons. 3. Put brackets around subordinate

clauses. 4. Label all subjects. 5. Label all verbs.

Label these sentences 1. On the way home, I noticed a stray cat.

2. I didn’t pick it up because it looked very sick.

3. The small cat meowed, and my heart melted.

4. The tiny kitty cuddled in my arms while I walked home, and I couldn’t wait to show my little brother.

Answers

S with a prep phrase

CP with a ,FANBOY

Now try a CX