The Simpsons Teach Sentences
Main (Independent) Clause --- is
like Marge.
• Marge is an independent
woman. She can survive
on her own.
Main (Independent) Clause
Just like Marge, an independent clause can
survive on its own. It is a complete
sentence.
A main (independent)
clause has
• a subject
• a verb
• is a complete thought
Examples of Main (Independent) Clauses
• Bart does not like to go to
school.
• Lisa loves the saxophone.
• Homer does not work
hard at the power plant.
• After a long day at work,
Marge likes to do yoga.
Compound Sentence
Main (independent) clause , FANBOY main (independent) clause.
Main (independent) clause ; main (independent) clause.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
,
Yet
So
Bart hates
school, so he
makes fun of
the teachers.
Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses -are like Homer
Homer is messed up when he is on his
own. Without Marge by his side,
things go wrong. He is
DEPENDENT
on Marge and cannot survive without
her.
Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses
Just like Homer, a
dependent clause cannot
survive by itself. It does
not express a complete
thought.
A subordinate clause
• has a subject
• has a verb
• is NOT a complete
thought
Examples of Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses
until the next time I see him
when I ran to the yellow
house
although I want to get an A
in math
that fell in the river
subordinating conjunctions
Subordinate
(dependent)
clauses begin with
signal words.
They signal the
beginning of a
subordinate clause
Subordinating Conjunctions
after
although
as
as if
as long as
as though
because
before
if
in order that
provided
since
so that
than
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
while
whatever
A Rule To Know!
A dependent clause
(Homer) must have an
independent clause
(Marge) by it to be a
complete sentence.
Simple Sentences:
subject
verb
complete thought
•
•
•
•
Marge walks to the lake.
Homer sleeps too much.
Bart is cool.
Lisa will want to get a
dog.
• The last “normal” person
on earth is Ned.
• After lunch, Homer will
take a nap.
Complex Sentences
one main (independent clause)
one or more subordinate
(dependent) clauses
Homer(D.C.), +
Marge (I.C.)
Until Homer met
Marge, he was a
nobody.
Marge (I.C.) +
Homer (D.C.)
Homer was a
nobody until he
met Marge.
So…
Let’s make
Complex
Sentences.
The
formulas
are...
DEPENDENTCLAUS
,
E
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
COMPLEX SENTENCE
Examples of Complex Sentences
• Until Lisa goes to college, she will have to live with
her parents.
• When the grass turns green, Homer will have to mow
the lawn.
• After Bart passes third grade, there will be a huge
celebration.
OR
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
DEPENDENT
CLAUSE
Examples of Complex Sentence
Marge + Homer. (NO COMMA)
• Lisa will have to live with her parents until she goes
to college.
• Homer will have to mow the lawn when the grass
turns green.
• There will be a huge celebration when Bart passes
third grade.
Let’s
practice the
different
kinds of
sentences.
Spillane Middle School
is ranked #1 in the state
of Texas.
What kind of sentence is this?
Simple,
Compound,
or Complex ?
How can you tell?
Spillane Middle School
is ranked #1 in the state
of Texas.
What kind of sentence is this?
Simple
How can you tell?
It has one main (independent) clause.
Mrs. Harris is quite a
strange teacher, but Mr.
Horner, Mrs. Ehler, Mrs.
Martin and Mr.
Thompson are even
stranger.
What kind of sentence is
this?
Simple, Compound, or
Complex ?
Mrs. Harris is quite a
strange teacher, but Mr.
Horner, Mrs. Ehler, Mrs.
Martin and Mr.
Thompson are even
stranger.
What kind of sentence is this?
Compound
How can you tell?
Main clause, FANBOY main clause.
Although I can’t swim, the
beach is a glorious
vacation spot.
What kind of sentence is
this?
Simple, Compound, or
Complex ?
How can you tell?
Although I can’t swim, the
beach is a glorious
vacation spot.
What kind of sentence is this? Complex
How can you tell?
Subordinate (dependent) clause, main
(independent) clause.
The beach is a glorious
vacation spot although I
can’t swim.
What kind of sentence is this?
Simple
Compound
Complex ?
How can you tell?
The beach is a glorious
vacation spot although I
can’t swim.
What kind of sentence is this?
Complex
How can you tell?
Main (independent) clause
+
subordinate (dependent) clause.
Relative pronouns can also begin
subordinate (dependent) clauses.
that
which
who
whom
whose
whoever
what
Examples of complex sentences:
Bart is the boy who set the school on fire.
Lisa, whose work is displayed in the hall, is one of
the teacher’s favorite students.
I don’t think that Maggie will ever learn to talk.
The boy who ordered all the pizzas and sent them
to the principal’s office will have two d-halls.
Examples of complex sentences:
main clause
[subordinate clause]
Bart is the boy [who set the school on fire].
Lisa, [whose work is displayed in the hall], is one
of the teacher’s favorite students.
I don’t think [that Maggie will ever learn to talk].
The boy [who ordered all the pizzas and sent them
to the principal’s office] will have two d-halls.