The Simpsons Teach Sentences
Independent Clause - Marge
• Marge is an
independent
woman. She can
survive on her
own.
Independent (Marge) Clause
• Just like Marge, an
independent clause can
survive on its own. It is
a complete sentence with
a subject and a verb that
expresses a complete
thought.
• Subject + Verb
Examples of Independent (Marge) Clauses
• Bart does not like to go to
school.
• Lisa loves the saxophone.
• Homer loves beer, donuts,
pork rinds and sleeping.
• Otto is not a safe bus driver.
• Maggie does not talk.
Compound Sentence
(Marge + , + F.a.n.b.o.y.s + Marge)
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
For this to work, you
must have a comma
between the first clause
and the FANBOYS!
Examples of two independent clauses brought together.
These are known as Compound Sentences.
Homer loves to snuggle with Marge, for Marge is
really sexy.
Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabapple are in love, and
they have to sneak around so they don’t get in trouble.
Lisa stays out of trouble at school, nor does she slack
off in her studies.
Lisa and Bart may fight a lot, but they do love each
other.
Otto drives the bus dangerously, or he often finds a
way to wreck it.
Homer is totally incompetent at work, yet he still
manages to keep his job.
Mr. Burns is very rich, so he can have whatever he
wants.
You can also bring two independent clauses together
with a semicolon. These would also be Compound
Sentences.
Homer loves to snuggle with Marge; Marge is really
sexy.
Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabapple are in love;
they have to sneak around so they don’t get in trouble.
Lisa stays out of trouble at school; she doesn’t slack
off in her studies.
Lisa and Bart may fight a lot; they do love each other.
Otto drives the bus dangerously; he often finds a way
to wreck it.
Homer is totally incompetent at work; he still
manages to keep his job.
Mr. Burns is very rich; he can have whatever he
wants.
Dependent Clauses (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.
Dependent (Homer) Clauses
Just like Homer, a
dependent clause cannot
survive by itself. It does
not express a complete
thought.
IT IS NOT A SENTENCE.
Examples of Dependent (Homer) Clauses
After Homer met Marge
Although Otto drove the bus
As Lisa played the saxaphone
When Bart plays pranks
While Principal Skinner hides
Until Homer causes another meltdown
Because Maggie never speaks
Before the show begins
If Gil could ever get a break
Since Mr. Burns is so rich
Examples of Dependent (Homer) Clauses
Notice the words,
after, although, as,
when, while, until
because, before, if
and since are all
subordinating
conjunctions. The
acronym to
remember is
AAAWWUBIS.
All of these
dependent
clauses would
be considered
fragments!
After Homer met Marge
Although Otto drove the bus
As Lisa played the saxaphone
When Bart plays pranks
While Principal Skinner hides
Until Homer causes another meltdown
Because Maggie never speaks
Before the show begins
If Gil could ever get a break
Since Mr. Burns is so rich
Uh, I just wanna know … where do I fit in in
grammar? What am I? Am I being snubbed in
this educational grammatical process?
I just feel like … so
left out. I’m much
more relevant than
that Homer guy. I
mean, that was like
20 years ago. Kids
know me – but they
don’t know him. In
fact, I could kick his
(CENSORED).
A Rule To Know!
A dependent clause
(Homer) must have
an independent
clause (Marge) by it
to be a complete
sentence.
Let’s Review the Three Types of
Sentences!
• Simple Sentences (Independent
Clause/Marge)
• Compound Sentences (Ind.
Clause/Marge + Ind. Clause/Marge)
• Fragment (Dependent
Clause/Homer)
• Complex (Ind. Clause + Dep.
Clause OR Dep. Clause + Ind.
Clause)
Simple Sentences (Marge)
Subject + Verb
•
•
•
•
•
Marge walks to the lake.
Homer sleeps too much.
Bart is cool.
Lisa will want to get a dog.
Otto won the school safety
award
• Moe wants a large-screen TV
for the bar.
So…
Let’s make
Complex
Sentences.
The
formulas
are...
Dependent Clause
Independent Clause
COMPLEX SENTENCE
Examples of Complex Sentence
AAAWWUBBIS + Homer, + Marge.
• Although Homer has made a lot of mistakes, Marge still
forgives him.
• 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.
• While Otto gets into wrecks, he keeps his job as a bus
driver.
Again, all the complex that begin with a dependent
(Homer) need a comma before the independent (Marge).
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
COMPLEX SENTENCE
Examples of Complex Sentence
Marge + Homer. (NO COMMA)
• Marge forgives Homer although he has made a lot of
mistakes.
• 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.
• Otto keeps his job as a bus driver while he keeps getting
into wrecks.
In this case, you do not need a comma between the
clauses.
Let’s
practice the
different
kinds of
sentences.
1. Lisa wants a Malibu Stacey Doll.
Simple
2. Mr. Burns owns a nuclear plant, but he
also wants to buy a coal plant.
Compound
3. Bart wants to pass the third grade
although he does poorly.
Complex
4. Mr. Smithers serves as Mr. Burn’s
conscience.
Simple
5. Although incompetent, Chief Wiggum still
6.
7.
8.
gets to carry a gun.
Complex
Rev. Lovejoy preaches every Sunday;
everyone gets bored from them.
Compound
Last week, Otto drove the bus into a pond,
and he filed for workman’s comp.
Compound
Is Barney Gumble an alcoholic?
Simple
Okay, okay, I got one. I got one.
What kind of sentence is this?
Peter Griffin is much
more freakin’ cool than
Homer Simpson.
What is it? What is it?
It’s a simplex sentence.
Uh, Peter,
that’s a
Simple
Sentence.
If you get any more of
these sentences incorrect,
you will face my wrath!!!
Now do your assignment!!!