COMPLEX SENTENCE STRUCTURE

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COMPLEX SENTENCE STRUCTURE

• NOTES

Main Points
Topic
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Topic

• Main Points
• Contains one independent clause connected to one
  or more dependent clause(s).
• Ex
• Because Helens alarm didnt go off, she missed
  her bus.

Complex Sentence

• Where is the independent clause?
• Dependent Clause?
• Clues?

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Topic

• Main Points
• A complete sentence which contains a subject and
  a verb and can stand alone
• She missed her bus.
• A unit that contains a subject and verb but cant
  stand alone because it begins with a connecting
  word known as a subordinating conjunction
• Because Helens alarm didnt go off

Review Independent Clause
New Dependent Clause

• What is the base word of dependent?
• How does that connect to the function of the
  dependent clause?

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There are 2 types of SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
that introduce Dependent Clauses

• A word that helps show the relationship between
  information in the dependent clause and
  information in the independent clause.
• Ex After I took a short nap, I felt better.

Subordinating Conjunction Sub below (in
rank) Ordinate main unit Conjunction joining
word
Pass out SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS LIST.
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A. Subordinating Conjunctions that Introduce
Adverb Clauses

• These subordinating conjunctions answer the
  questions why, when, where, in what
  manner, under what conditions, or to what
  extent something happened.
• When you finish the test, please read your book.
• .
• after though
• although unless
• as until
• as if when
• as long as whenever
• because ? where
• before wherever
• even though while
• if so that ?
• in order that ? than
• since

• ANSWERS WHEN?
• WHERE?
• WHY? ?
• UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS?
• TO WHAT EXTENT?

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B. Subordinating Conjunctions to Introduce
Adjective Clauses

• Who (Whoever)
• Whose
• Which
• Whom
• Where
• That
• Adjective clauses answer Which one? and What
  kind? about a noun in the sentence.
• Example The lady who drives our bus is crazy.
• Box the Dependent Clause, circle the
  subordinating conjunctions, and underline the
  independent clause. Label S/V in both clauses.

• Which refers to things and animals
• Who, whose, and whom refer to people
• That usually refers to things

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COMPLEX CAUTION

• A fragment exists if a dependent clause is not
  attached to an independent clause.
• Ex
• Because I am going to my grandparents house.
• Where I put my binder.
• Until I get my grades up.
• Since the sun came up.

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Be CAREFUL when writing or checking over your
sentences so that you dont mistake a fragment
for a complete complex sentence.

• Because she was in a hurry. F / CCXS
• If you go to Starbucks, please bring me back a
  large coffee. F / CCXS
• Sandra had just finished her homework when the
  phone rang. F / CCXS
• Although it was getting very late. F/ CCXS
• Whenever there is a full moon. F/ CCXS

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Work Complex Sentence Independent Practice, I-IV.
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In the following sentences, BOX the DEPENDENT
CLAUSE and UNDERLINE the INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
Label subjects and verbs in both clause
types.CIRCLE THE WORD that keeps the dependent
clause from being independent.

• Whenever Ms. Franny has one of her fits, it
  reminds me of Winn Dixie in a thunderstorm.
  ADV or ADJ?--Kate Di Camillo, Because of Win
  Dixie
• The boy who sits in front of me talks too much.
  ADV or ADJ?--
• Catherine had loaded her bag with the leftovers
  from Sunday dinner when gunfire slapped through
  the woods. ADV or ADJ?-- --Truman Capote,
  The Grass Harp
• Because she is holding the microphone so close to
  her face, each moment of contact sounds like a
  heavy blow.
• 
  ADV or ADJ?--
  Myla Goldberg, The Bee Season
• What do you notice about dependent clauses and
  complex sentences? Which have introductory
  dependent clauses, interrupter, and closer? What
  do you notice about commas?

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Complex Sentence Patterns

• Introductory Clause
• Since David was terrified (of the dark), he
  hurried home.
• Notice A comma comes after an introductory
  dependent clause.
• Box the dependent clause, circle the
  subordinating conjunction, and underline subjects
  and verbs in the independent clause.

What is the advantage of having a dependent
clause connected to an independent clause?
(HintTake it out and read the sentence without
it.)
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Introductory Clause Pattern
,

• 
  independent clause

SC Dependent Clause (Adverb Clause)
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• Interrupter Clause
• The sounds that filled the forest scared
  him.
• Interrupters will often be adjective clauses
  placed next to the nouns they describe.

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Interrupter Clause Pattern

• SC Dependent Clause (Adjective Clause)

Subject
verb
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• Closer Clause
• He trembled
• in fear as the wind
• blew.
• Notice Usually, no commas are included if the
  dependent clause comes at the end of the sentence.

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Closer Pattern

• SC Dependent Clause
• (Adj. or Adv. Clause)

Independent Clause
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Combine Short, Choppy Sentences with Dependent
Clauses

• Instead of the choppy sentences
• We were late. We were expelled.
• Because we were late, we were expelled.
• OR
• We were expelled because we were late.
• Notice the comma separates the introductory
  clause from the main clause but it is not needed
  if the dependent clause ends the sentence.

Compare this to a compound sentence We were
late, and we were expelled. Which flows more
smoothly and indicates a clearer relationship
between clauses?
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• Combine Choppy Sentences with Subordinating
  Conjunctions
• We ate breakfast. We left on our trip. (Combine
  with Adverb Clause)
• Example Richard plays in a rock band. He is
  dating Jessica. (Combine with Adjective Clause)

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One last note of CAUTIONSubordinating
Conjunctions vs. Prepositions

• Some SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS look like
  Prepositions.
• Ex after, before, until, since
• The difference is that a SUBORDINATING
  CONJUNCTION IS followed by a complete sentence a
  PREPOSITION is only followed by an object (noun).
• Ex
• Before I left for school, I fed the dog.
  (SC-complex sentence)
• I fed the dog before school. (Simple sentence,
  PP w/object )

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Identify Dependent ClausesBracket the dependent
clauses, circle the subordinating conjunctions,
and underline the independent clauses. LABEL
SUBJECTS AND VERBS. Correct the punctuation when
necessary.Note The subordinate conjunction IS
PART OF THE DEPENDENT CLAUSE.

• The dog barked because it was lonely.
• When the dog barked, the baby woke up.
• Mother sang a lullaby when the baby woke up.
• Finally, the dog that barked in the night fell
  asleep.

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• Since the dog started barking the baby who is
  usually very sweet has been crying non-stop.
• The dog which was called Rover was barking.
• He will continue to bark until his owner brings
  him inside for the night.
• The dog lives at the house where the blue Mustang
  is parked.