Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure

Four Types of Sentences • Simple • Compound • Complex • Compound-Complex

Simple • A sentence is a group of words with a subject and a predicate that forms a complete thought. • Another name for a simple sentence is an independent clause. • A simple sentence expresses one thought or idea.

Four Simple Sentence Formulas • Sv • Ssv • Svv • Ssvv

Compound Sentence • A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined together to form one new thought.

Compound Sentence Formulas • I,c I • This occurs when you have two thoughts, and you join them using a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating Conjunctions • These conjunctions are used to combine or coordinate thoughts and make then sound as if they belong together. • Never begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction. They are meant to connect thoughts, not to begin them.

Introducing the FANBOYS! • For • And • Nor • But • Or • Yet • So

Confusion! • Don’t confuse an I,c I with an ssv sentence. • I,c I I went to the store, and I bought some bread. YOU NEED A COMMA HERE! • Svv I went to the store and bought some bread. YOU DO NOT NEED A COMMA HERE!

Another Compound Formula • I;I • This one is easy; just add a semi-colon to join two thoughts.

COMMA SPLICE!!!! • Note that I,I is not a formula. • This makes a comma splice. • This means trouble for you. • This means an F. • Don’t use one!!!!! • Comma splices are wrong, don’t use one in your paper.

Complex Sentences • Complex sentences are formed when a dependent clause is added to an independent clause. • What is an independent clause?

Dependent Clause • A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate but does not form a complete thought. It must begin with a subordinating conjunction. • How can that be, you ask? It has a subject and predicate, but it is not a complete thought!

It is not a complete thought because it begins with a subordinating conjunction. • If something is subordinate, it is less than something else. Hence, a clause with a subordinating conjunction is less than a sentence. Get it?

Subordinating Conjunctions after before unless wherever although if until whether as since when while as if that whenever because though where

Now make this sentence less than a complete sentence. • Sally burned the food. • Try this one. Her mother gave her a recipe.

Complex Formulas • There are two formulas to form complex sentences. • D,I • ID

D,I • If a complex sentence begins with a subordinate (dependent) clause, put a comma after the opening clause to divide it from the main (independent clause). • Because I was hungry, I made a sandwich.

ID • Don’t put a comma after an independent clause if it is the first clause in the sentence. • I made a sandwich because I was hungry.

Compound-Complex Sentences • These are formed when you write a compound sentence, but one half of that compound sentence is also complex. • Confusing? • Let’s figure this out.

When I see my friend Rob, I am always happy. (D,I) • I do not get to see him very often. (sv) • Now connect them with a fanboy!

When I see my friend Rob, I am always happy, but I do not get to see him very often. • Formula?

That’s right. D,I,cI • You now have a compound-complex sentence. • Can you come up with other compound-complex formulas?

Name the formula and type. • I can. I will. • I can, and I will. • If I can, I will. • If I can, I will, but he won’t.

Sentence Structure