Sentence Structure

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Sentence Structure
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The simple sentence(a.k.a. independent clause)

• S V
• She washed the car.
• S S V
• Tim and his brother are traveling to Mexico.
• S V V
• Carla will clean and iron all her clothes for the
  trip.

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Compound Sentences

• The ride lasted for several minutes, but my
  stomach continued to rumble for several hours.
• The wind whipped against our faces, and the
  screams of other riders excited us.
• The roller coaster is such fun its very
  popular.

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A compound sentence is a sentence with two or
more simple sentences joined by these
conjunctions

• F for
• A and
• N nor
• B but
• O or
• Y yet
• S so

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Combining simple sentences

• We will be absent from school on Friday.
• We will be here on Monday.
• We will be absent from school on Friday, but we
  will be here on Monday.

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Combine the following sentences

• Henry is the tallest student in his class
• He has a brother who is taller than him.
• Henry is the tallest student in his class, yet he
  has a brother who is taller than him.

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The Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence has an independent clause
  subordinate clause.

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• When there is ice on the sidewalk
• She always falls down.
• She always falls down when there is ice on the
  sidewalk.
• When there is ice on the sidewalk, she always
  falls down.

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A subordinate clause contains a subject and verb
but cannot stand on its own as a sentence.

• ,whenever we feel like it.
• If you would be able to,
• ,who usually carries the groceries,
• ,that walks with me,
• ,because its empty.

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To find a subordinate clause, start by looking
for subordinating conjunctions.

• After
• Although
• As
• as if
• Because
• Before
• even if
• even though
• If
• in order to

• Since
• Though
• Unless
• Until
• Whatever
• When
• whenever
• Whether
• while

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Combining Complex Sentences

• Well need to leave early
• Since the traffic is backed up
• Well need to leave early since the traffic is
  backed up
• Since the traffic is backed up, well need to
  leave early.

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Compound Complex Sentences

• A compound complex sentence is usually a
  combination of
• MAIN MAIN SUBORDINATE

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Compound-Complex

• The package arrived in the morning
• The courier left
• Before I could check the contents
• The package arrived in the morning, but the
  courier left before I could check the contents.

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Simple, Compound, or Complex?

• My team plays tomorrow and Wednesday.
• SIMPLE

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Lynette was determined to ride the rollercoaster,
so she waited in line.

• Compound -coordinating conjunction so

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Helen and her mother always pack extra food for
the trip.

• Simple

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Unless we find the key, we wont be able to see
whats inside.

• Complex subordinating conjunction unless

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We were frightened because the ride went so fast.

• Complex subordinating conjuntion because

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The man in the old house across the street
planted a beautiful garden in his backyard.

• Simple (lots of prepositional phrases)