grammar rule: kinds of sentence structure: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences...

Grammar Rule: Kinds of Sentence Structure: Simple, Compound,

Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences

Chapters 15 & 16 in Elements of Language

Essential Questions:1) Does grammar enhance communication?

2) What makes good writing easy to follow and understand?

3) Why study grammar?

04/10/23 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com

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When/Why Do I Want to Write Different Types of

Sentences?• Situation: Your sentences are all

the same, and your writing reads like a choppy list.

• Solution: Vary the types of sentences you use by creating sentences in the following structures. Recheck your writing to see what types of sentences you used.

What is a clause?

• A group of words that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or part of a sentence

• Every clause contains a subject and a verb, but not every clause expresses a complete thought.

• There are 2 types of clauses (independent and subordinate/dependent)


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Independent clauses

• Independent clause- phrase or group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. It fits into a sentence but can stand on its own.

• Examples:1) My mother drove me to school.2) Since I missed my bus, my mother drove

me school.


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Subordinate/Dependent clause

• Subordinate clause- does NOT express a complete thought and cannot stand alone by itself as a sentence. Certain words signal a subordinate clause.

• Adjective and adverb clauses are types of subordinate clauses.

Examples:1) If the dress is too long2) that the veterinarian recommended3) If the dress is too long, we will hem it.


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Adjective & Adverb Clauses

• Adjective clauses- modify a noun or pronoun. Adjectives clauses begin with words such as who, whom, whose, which and that.

• Adverb clauses- modify a verb, adjective, or adverb. Adverb clauses begin with words such as after, as, because, if, since, whenever, and when.

• *In English, when you use or see these words, it should tell you that you are reading or writing a subordinate clause.


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Set-Up an Index Card (the front)

Words that signal a dependent/sub. clause:where that when as long as

thoughwhom if after as much as untilwhose as before as soon as,which since while as thoughbecause whenever although in order thatwherever who unless*Note: the word “which” always takes a comma. Ex: It was snowing, which

made driving difficult.*The red words are called “time and place words.” When you start a sentence

with any of these “time and place words,” you must put a comma after the dependent clause.

*When you start a sentence with a dependent clause, you must put a comma after it!

Example: Because it is snowing, I will make a snowman.When you see the words above- it should tell you ok! Here is a

subordinate/dependent clause! You need to memorize these!


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Set-Up an Index Card (the back)

Formula to Find the Subordinate Clause:1)Locate the words that signal a dependent clause. Circle them, and underline the dependent clause. Check that it sounds like a fragment and can’t stand alone as a sentence.2)Double-underline (or use another color) the independent clause. Check that it has a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought. Keep in mind that sometimes the independent clause can be “interrupted” by a dependent clause.*When you start a sentence with a subordinate clause, you must put a comma after it.


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What is a Simple Sentence?

• Simple sentence- contains one independent clause and no subordinate/dependent clause.

Examples: 1) A good rain will help the farmers. s v V 2) Where are my keys? v s

Additional Notes

• To find the subject of a sentence, ask yourself who or what is the sentence about?

• To find the verb, ask yourself is the subject doing anything? If so, that is the action verb.

• Memorize the being/helping/linking verbs in the “Writing Effective Sentences PowerPoint.”


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Simple Sentences Continued…

• Note: A simple sentence may have compound subjects and verbs.

• Compound means more than 1. (2 subjects/2 verbs)

• Examples: 1) Fajitas and tacos are two popular

Mexican dishes. (compound subjects) 2) Kim read and reported on the article. (compound verbs)


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What is a Compound Sentence?

• Compound Sentence- contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses. Each clause is usually separated by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet) (fanboys)

Examples: 1) Katie studied for the test, so she will do well. Katie studied for the test (1 indep. clause) , so (coordinating conjunction) she will do well (2nd independent clause)

• A semi-colon (; ) may also be used to create a compound sentence. A semi-colon is in place of a conjunction (fanboys).


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What is a Complex Sentence?

• Complex Sentence- contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate (dependent)

clause. • Two kinds of subordinate clauses are

adjective clauses and adverb clauses.• Example: Since it is raining, I will

bring an umbrella.


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Examples of Complex Sentences

• Examples:

When I hear rock music, I think of my friend John. (subordinate clause) (independent clause)

Mrs. Swiatocha, who is my teacher, loves grammar. subordinate clause independent clause

*Find the dependent clause first by looking for those key words. Then, find the independent clause.


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What is a Compound-Complex Sentence?

•Compound-Complex Sentence- contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.


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What Are Some Examples of Compound-Complex Sentences?

• Examples: 1) The band began to play, and Kerry was

pulled to the floor for a dance that was starting.

s v s vThe band began to play, and Kerry was pulled

to the floor for a dance that was starting. (sub./dep. clause)


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Examples Continued…• Example:

1) Whenever we go on vacation, our neighbors mow our yard, and they collect our mail.

(sub. clause) s v

(ind.clause)• Whenever we go on vacation, our neighbors mow

our yard, and they collect our mail. s v (ind.clause)


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How Can I Remember This?

Simple= indep.

Compound= indep. + (comma conjunction or semi-colon) + indep.

Complex= indep. + dep.

Compound-Complex= ind. + ind.+ dep.


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In Conclusion…Why Should We Use Different Types of Sentences?

• Using different types of sentences changes the rhythm of your writing!

• Using different types of sentences helps your writing flow

• It adds a “diversity” to your writing; it doesn’t sound all the same

• It makes it more interesting• It makes it less choppy or less wordy

grammar rule: kinds of sentence structure: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences...

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