PART ONE
Sentence Structure
Review
Our language is nothing more than words.
Two or more words - PHRASE
Two or more words with a subject and verb -CLAUSE
A clause with a complete thought - INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE
A clause WITHOUT a complete thought - DEPENDENT
CLAUSE
Sentences
Sentences are classified according to the number and
kind of clauses they have.
Simple Sentence
1
Independent clause
0
Dependent clauses
The dog ran across the road.
Tom enjoys playing football and baseball.
In the morning, the sun rises on the eastern horizon.
Compound Sentence
2 + Independent clauses
0
Dependent clauses
Frank enjoys a good game of football, but his wife would
rather play tennis.
Independent clauses:
Frank enjoys a good game of football
His wife would rather play tennis
Complex Sentence
1 Independent clause
1+
Dependent clauses
When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter.
Independent clause: I want to be a firefighter
Dependent clause: when I grow up
Complex Sentence (continued)
1 Independent clause
1+ Dependent clauses
When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter because that is
an important job.
Independent clause: I want to be a firefighter
Dependent clauses: when I grow up
because that is an important job
Compound-complex sentence
2+ Independent clauses
1+ Dependent clauses
The weather did not cooperate for the ice pond
tournament this weekend since it was so warm causing
the ice to melt; however, people still laced up their skates
to play.
Independent clauses: 1)The weather did not cooperate
for the ice pond tournament this weekend
2) people still laced up their skates to play
Dependent clause: since it was so warm causing the ice
to melt
Why Should We Use Different
Kinds of Sentences?
Why do
good
speakers
avoid using
a monotone
when they
speak?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anomalous/446343686/
Why do many students hate to wear uniforms to
school?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindsaymp/3504645866/
Why do restaurants serve
more than one entrée?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunny/2335834563/
Variety is the “spice of Life”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oybay/94688445/
Poor Writing lacks sentence variety.
Johnny had a dog. Spot was the dog’s name. Spot lived
down the block from me. Spot would fetch sticks all day.
Sometimes he would chase cars. One day Spot ran toward
a moving car. He did not stop. The car clipped his leg. Spot
got very hurt. Spot broke his front leg. The veterinarian put a
cast on Spot’s leg. Spot had to hobble around for weeks with
the cast. Spot learned not to chase cars.
Good Writing has sentence variety.
One of the most amazing dogs in our neighborhood
was Johnny’s dog named Spot. This dog was capable
of fetching sticks, snagging Frisbees, or catching
baseballs; as a matter of fact, my baseball team
thought he would probably be better than our right
fielder if we could get him into a uniform and make him
wear a cap. But Spot had one fault: chasing cars. It so
happened that one day while Spot was running toward
a car, he got too close, and the car clipped his front leg.
After weeks of hobbling around in a cast, Spot was
back to his original acrobatic self. However, he learned
an important lesson that dogs should not chase cars.
Compound Sentence
Independent clause + independent clause
3 patterns for connecting independent clauses
I,c I
I; I
I ; cad, I
Pattern # 1
I
independent
clause
,
c
,
coordinating
conjunction
I
independent
clause
Coordinating conjunctions- For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
(FANBOYS)
***MOST commonly used fanboys: and, but, or
Fanboys show relationships between
independent clause
And, Or - equal to
But, Yet - opposite , contrary to
For, So - cause and effect
Nor - equal (in a negative way)***
And , Or - equal to
John went to the store, and Jim went to the park.
I could go watch the fireworks, or mother had asked me to
stay home with her.
But, Yet - opposite, contrary to
Sally enjoys spending a day at the mall, but her brother Jim
hates to go shopping.
The homework was only two math problems, yet the
students spent nearly forty-five minutes finishing both of
them.
Nor - equal (in a negative way)
Janice was not able to sell her dad’s corn at the farmer’s
market, nor was she able to sell any of her artwork as
well.
**notice that many times the subject will come after the
verb when it follows the word “nor”.
Nor was
she
able to sell any of her artwork as well.
verb subject verb
Pattern # 2
I
independent
clause
;
;
I
independent
clause
The girls play a game tonight; the boys are just practicing.
Kids like pizza and hamburgers most days; parents would
rather have salads and soups
*** to use this pattern the independent clauses must be
closely related to each other.
Practice Time!
Lets practice repeating the two compound sentence
patterns we have just discussed.
Remember that the placement and type of punctuation
is critical when writing compound sentences!
Good luck with the homework
PART TWO
Compound sentence vs. Simple sentence with
Compound Subjects or
Compound Predicates
Comma Rules
Use in between a series of items
She bought bananas, apples, and pears.
The tickets, parking, and food for the game came to
nearly two hundred fifty dollars.
Use a comma with a coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)
when putting independent clauses together.
Tessa was very interested in the game, but her dad
insisted that she stop watching to do her homework.
Jack loves to swim, and Jill enjoys tanning on the
beach.
No Commas Needed
DON’T USE A COMMA when a coordinating conjunction is
joining ONLY two items.
(two subjects)
Ricky and Ted run the concession stand for games.
(two predicates)
Joanie ate her lunch and studied for her test at the same
time.
(two verb phrases)
Cathy had practiced all day and was performing that
night.
Practice Time
Put commas correctly into sentences that require them.
1. Carlee ate her lunch but did not finish her sandwich.
2. Winter is a hard season yet it seems to be growing
shorter every year due to global warming.
3. The new keyboards and our fancy LED screens cost the
school nearly fifty thousand dollars.
4. Frank loves to snack on popcorn cheese corn and carmel
corn.
5. Nobody knew the trouble the boys were in so no one could
tell them of the possible dangers of the situation.
Homework Time
Now, lets take time to recognize the difference between
compound sentences that needs commas in them and simple
sentences that don’t need commas between two subjects or
two verbs or two phrases.
PART THREE
Compound Sentence Pattern # 3
Adverbs Review
Adverbs answer the questions how, where, to what
extent, or when about the main verb in the sentence.
They can be placed any where in a sentence; however,
they are usually placed near the verb or at the beginning
of sentences.
Tom ran quickly down the street.
Quickly, Tom ran down the street.
Adverbs Review (continued)
Some adverbs connect two independent clauses and
describe the relationship of the two independent clauses as
well. These are called Conjunctive Adverbs.
Conjunctive -connect 2 independent clauses
Adverbs- show the relationship between the 2 independent
clauses.
Conjunctive adverb - however
I wanted to sleep in on Saturday morning; however, my dog
woke me up at six o’clock with all his barking.
Compound Sentence Pattern #3
I
;
cad , I
I wanted to sleep in on Saturday morning; however, my dog
woke me up at six o’clock with all his barking.
Notice how two previous punctuation rules are followed.
First, the semicolon can join two closely related independent
clauses; hence, a semicolon is placed after “morning”.
Second, when an adverb starts a sentence it must be
followed by a comma; therefore, a comma is placed after the
conjunctive adverb “however”.
Practice Time
Put the correct punctuation around the conjunctive adverbs in
the following compound sentences.
1. The rain came down so strongly consequently our
baseball game was rescheduled for another day.
2. Wind gusts in last night’s storm reached over 60 mph
therefore many trees from our neighborhood were blown
down.
3. Mary makes the best apple turnovers however she only
makes them on special occasions.
4. Sally knew skiing down the black diamond hill could be
dangerous nevertheless she did it any way.
More about
Conjunctive Adverbs
There are many Conjunctive Adverbs.
(however, therefore, consequently, nevertheless, etc.)
Some conjunctive adverbs are actually phrases.
(for example, on the other hand, for instance, etc.)
Conjunctive adverbs may start a simple or complex
sentence; however, in either case they will be followed
be a comma.
However, they didn’t win the game. (simple sentence)
Consequently, they didn’t win the game when our fullback
fumbled the ball on the two yard line. (complex sentence)
Why use
Conjunctive Adverbs?
To add variety to your sentences.
To provide a better transition between the two
independent clauses. *
** Sometimes conjunctive adverbs are a better word
choice than using one of the coordinating conjunctions
(fanboys) because they are more precise when showing
the relationship between the two independent clauses.
Review of Compound Sentences
Pattern # 1
I , c I
c - coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)
Pattern # 2
I ; I
*Independent clauses must be closely related.
Pattern # 3
I ; cad , I
cad - conjunctive adverbs may be words or phrases
Questions?
Place the correct punctuation in the following sentences.
If no punctuation is needed leave it alone.
1. The door swung open hitting me in the face and
everybody just laughed at the funny sound.
2. My eye became red and bloodshot consequently my
mom took me to the emergency room.
3. The doctor examined my eye closely under a heavy
magnified lens however he found no retina damage.
4. The bright light hurt my eye it kept watering
throughout the exam.
Time for Homework.