COMPLEX SENTENCES
Ms. Schubert, Mrs. Kappers
Sentence Notes
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Clause: A group of words that contains a subject
and a verb
Phrase: A group of words that is missing either a
subject or a verb
Parts of Sentences
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Independent Clause: This can stand alone as a
sentence. A simple sentence (SV, SSV, SVV, SSVV) is
one independent clause standing alone.
 The
bell and alarm rang at the same time.
 The young girl danced and laughed at the party.
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Dependent Clause: This cannot stand alone as a
sentence, but it has a subject and a verb.
 After
the school bell rang,
 When the young girl danced,
Types of Sentences
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Compound Sentence: Two independent clauses
joined together.
Two ways to combine two independent clauses:
 Comma
plus conjunction (I,cI): The bell rang, and the
students rushed out.
 Semi-colon (I;I): The bell rang; the students rushed out.
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS): For, And, Nor,
But, Or, Yet, So
Types of Sentences Continued
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Complex Sentence: One independent clause and
one or more dependent clauses
If the DEPENDENT clause is first, it is followed by a
comma. (D,I)
 After
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the bell rang, the students rushed out.
If the INDEPENDENT clause is first, it is NOT
followed by a comma. (ID)
 The
students rushed out after the bell rang.
Subordinating Conjunction-ALWAYS
begins dependent clauses
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After
Because
Although
When
Unless
Who
Before
Whenever
Wherever
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Until
While
Which
Whoever
As
Since
Even though
If
So that
Complex Sentence Practice:
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I will shovel the snow myself unless you
want to join me.
After the fans went home, the band
packed up their instruments.
Until Shaina learns how to pace herself,
she will not be healthy.
That little sports car is perfect for me
because I can afford its upkeep.
Since the weather got warm, all of our
snow left us.
Complex Sentence Practice
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Finish the statement to make it a complex sentence.
 Because
I ate breakfast, _________________
 I went to school ________________________
 After my mom yelled at me, ______________