Grammar of the Week – Larsen Name: _______________________
Information to Know
Words can be put together in any number of ways:
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A phrase is a group of related words that lacks either a subject or a predicate or both. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.
ran very fast (lacks a subject)
the young colt (lacks a predicate) down the steep slope (lacks both a subject and a predicate)
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A clause is a group of related words that has both a subject and a predicate.
An Independent Clause presents a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
Sparrows make nests in cattle barns.
They can stay warm in the winter.
A Dependent Clause does not present a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It often begins with a conjunction such as “although, because, if, as, when.” because sparrows make nests in cattle barns so they can stay warm in the winter
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A sentence is made up of one or more words that express a complete thought (an independent clause).
A Simple Sentence has only one independent clause (and perhaps one or more phrases) and only expresses one thought.
My back aches.
Charles must be getting hungry.
A seahorse has a horse-like head and a curly tail.
A Compound Sentence is made up of two closely related independent clauses (underlined) joined together by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (“and, or, but”) or a semicolon.
Ellis has a broken leg, but he isn’t in pain anymore.
Patrick had a corn dog for lunch; William had some onion rings.
A Complex Sentence is made up of an independent clause (underlined) and one or more dependent clauses
(bolded).
Since Zach is a funny guy, he was invited to a famous comedy show.
Julia decided to go to Homecoming with Norman because he gave her a year’s supply of chocolate ‘ when he asked her.
A Compound-Complex Sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses (underlined) and one or more dependent clauses (bolded).
Miranda’s chicken is brown and white, and it lays spotted eggs, unless it eats alfalfa for dinner.
When pirates attack another ship, they steal all the food and they make the enemy sailors walk the plank.
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Grammar of the Week – Larsen Name: _______________________
Practice Exercises (10 points)
Match the following sentence descriptions with the appropriate sentence type. (Some sentence types may apply to more than one sentence description):
___ 1. Predicate only A. Phrase
___ 2. Independent clause+ independent clause + dependent clause B. Simple Sentence
___ 3. Independent clause+ independent clause C. Compound Sentence
___ 4. Independent clause
___ 5. Independent clause + dependent clause
___ 6. Dependent clause + phrase
___ 7. Subject + predicate standing alone
___ 8. Dependent clause +Independent clause + dependent clause
___ 9. Subject only
D. Complex Sentence
E. Compound-Complex Sentence
F. Not a complete sentence
___ 10. Independent clause + phrase.
Underline the Independent Clauses and circle the Dependent Clauses in the following sentences. Then, state whether the sentences are Simple, Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex.
11. My mother likes to eat deep-fried vegetables. ____________
12. After classes end on Friday, students rush out of the parking lot and head quickly for home. ____________
13. Dylan is a big fan of the Oregon Ducks, but Justin is a Washington Husky fan. ____________
14. Alex makes responsible decisions, such as when she turned down concert tickets because the concert was the night before a big test. ____________
15. I must drive over the bridge, across the desert, and through the city to reach my house. ____________
Review Exercises (10 points)
Label all the parts of speech contained in the following sentences:
1.
The white cow produced chocolate milk.
2.
Windy days are usually cold.
Label all the parts of the following sentences:
3.
When little kids play outside, they get dirty.
4.
The tall student lost his homework in his backpack.
On a separate sheet of paper, diagram the following sentences:
5.
After sunrise, we ate a big breakfast.
6.
The small waves lapped against the rock.
7.
Mikayla cut her hair and dyed it blonde.
On your separate sheet of paper, write sentences that contain all of the parts indicated or that are of the proper structure. You can order each sentence however you want. Each sentence should be different and each part(including the appropriate phrases or clauses) should be labeled:
8.
Subject, predicate, direct object, prepositional phrase
9.
Complex sentence (label the clauses)
10.
Compound sentence (label the clauses)