Sentence Structure

PART ONE

Review

Our language is nothing more than words.

Two or more words - PHRASE

Two or more words with a subject and verb -CLAUSE

A clause with a complete thought - INDEPENDENT

CLAUSE

A clause WITHOUT a complete thought - DEPENDENT

CLAUSE

Sentences

Sentences are classified according to the number and kind of clauses they have.

Simple Sentence

1 Independent clause 0 Dependent clauses

The dog ran across the road.

Tom enjoys playing football and baseball.

In the morning, the sun rises on the eastern horizon.

Compound Sentence

2 + Independent clauses 0 Dependent clauses

Frank enjoys a good game of football, but his wife would rather play tennis.

Independent clauses:

Frank enjoys a good game of football

His wife would rather play tennis

Complex Sentence

1 Independent clause 1+ Dependent clauses

When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter.

Independent clause: I want to be a firefighter

Dependent clause: when I grow up

Complex Sentence (continued)

1 Independent clause 1+ Dependent clauses

When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter because that is an important job.

Independent clause: I want to be a firefighter

Dependent clauses: when I grow up

because that is an important job

Compound-complex sentence2+ Independent clauses 1+ Dependent clauses

The weather did not cooperate for the ice pond tournament this weekend since it was so warm causing the ice to melt; however, people still laced up their skates to play.

Independent clauses: 1)The weather did not cooperate for the ice pond tournament this weekend

2) people still laced up their skates to play

Dependent clause: since it was so warm causing the ice to melt

Why Should We Use Different Kinds of Sentences?

Why do good

speakers avoid using a monotone when they

speak?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anomalous/446343686/

Why do many students hate to wear uniforms to school?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindsaymp/3504645866/

Why do restaurants serve more than one entrée?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunny/2335834563/

Variety is the “spice of Life”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oybay/94688445/

Poor Writing lacks sentence variety.

Johnny had a dog. Spot was the dog’s name. Spot lived down the block from me. Spot would fetch sticks all day. Sometimes he would chase cars. One day Spot ran toward a moving car. He did not stop. The car clipped his leg. Spot got very hurt. Spot broke his front leg. The veterinarian put a cast on Spot’s leg. Spot had to hobble around for weeks with the cast. Spot learned not to chase cars.

Good Writing has sentence variety.

One of the most amazing dogs in our neighborhood was Johnny’s dog named Spot. This dog was capable of fetching sticks, snagging Frisbees, or catching baseballs; as a matter of fact, my baseball team thought he would probably be better than our right fielder if we could get him into a uniform and make him wear a cap. But Spot had one fault: chasing cars. It so happened that one day while Spot was running toward a car, he got too close, and the car clipped his front leg. After weeks of hobbling around in a cast, Spot was back to his original acrobatic self. However, he learned an important lesson that dogs should not chase cars.

Compound Sentence

Independent clause + independent clause

3 patterns for connecting independent clauses

I , c I

I ; I

I ; cad, I

Pattern # 1

I , c I

independent , coordinating independent

clause conjunction clause

Coordinating conjunctions- For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

(FANBOYS)

***MOST commonly used fanboys: and, but, or

Fanboys show relationships between independent clause

And, Or - equal to

But, Yet - opposite , contrary to

For, So - cause and effect

Nor - equal (in a negative way)***

And , Or - equal to

John went to the store, and Jim went to the park.

I could go watch the fireworks, or mother had asked me to stay home with her.

But, Yet - opposite, contrary to

Sally enjoys spending a day at the mall, but her brother Jim hates to go shopping.

The homework was only two math problems, yet the students spent nearly forty-five minutes finishing both of them.

Nor - equal (in a negative way)

Janice was not able to sell her dad’s corn at the farmer’s

market, nor was she able to sell any of her artwork as well.

**notice that many times the subject will come after the verb when it follows the word “nor”.

Nor was she able to sell any of her artwork as well.

verb subject verb

Pattern # 2

I ; I

independent ; independent

clause clause

The girls play a game tonight; the boys are just practicing.

Kids like pizza and hamburgers most days; parents would rather have salads and soups

*** to use this pattern the independent clauses must be closely related to each other.

Practice Time!

Lets practice repeating the two compound sentence patterns we have just discussed.

Remember that the placement and type of punctuation is critical when writing compound sentences!

Good luck with the homework

Compound sentence vs. Simple sentence with Compound Subjects or Compound Predicates

PART TWO

Comma RulesUse in between a series of items

She bought bananas, apples, and pears.

The tickets, parking, and food for the game came to nearly two hundred fifty dollars.

Use a comma with a coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) when putting independent clauses together.

Tessa was very interested in the game, but her dad insisted that she stop watching to do her homework.

Jack loves to swim, and Jill enjoys tanning on the beach.

No Commas Needed

DON’T USE A COMMA when a coordinating conjunction is joining ONLY two items.

(two subjects)

Ricky and Ted run the concession stand for games.

(two predicates)

Joanie ate her lunch and studied for her test at the same time.

(two verb phrases)

Cathy had practiced all day and was performing that night.

Practice Time

Put commas correctly into sentences that require them.

1. Carlee ate her lunch but did not finish her sandwich.

2. Winter is a hard season yet it seems to be growing shorter every year due to global warming.

3. The new keyboards and our fancy LED screens cost the school nearly fifty thousand dollars.

4. Frank loves to snack on popcorn cheese corn and carmel corn.

5. Nobody knew the trouble the boys were in so no one could tell them of the possible dangers of the situation.

Homework Time

Now, lets take time to recognize the difference between compound sentences that needs commas in them and simple sentences that don’t need commas between two subjects or two verbs or two phrases.

PART THREE

Compound Sentence Pattern # 3

Adverbs Review

Adverbs answer the questions how, where, to what extent, or when about the main verb in the sentence.

They can be placed any where in a sentence; however, they are usually placed near the verb or at the beginning of sentences.

Tom ran quickly down the street.

Quickly, Tom ran down the street.

Adverbs Review (continued)

Some adverbs connect two independent clauses and describe the relationship of the two independent clauses as well. These are called Conjunctive Adverbs.

Conjunctive -connect 2 independent clauses

Adverbs- show the relationship between the 2 independent clauses.

Conjunctive adverb - however

I wanted to sleep in on Saturday morning; however, my dog woke me up at six o’clock with all his barking.

Compound Sentence Pattern #3

I ; cad , I

I wanted to sleep in on Saturday morning; however, my dog woke me up at six o’clock with all his barking.

Notice how two previous punctuation rules are followed.

First, the semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses; hence, a semicolon is placed after “morning”.

Second, when an adverb starts a sentence it must be followed by a comma; therefore, a comma is placed after the conjunctive adverb “however”.

Practice Time

1. The rain came down so strongly consequently our baseball game was rescheduled for another day.

2. Wind gusts in last night’s storm reached over 60 mph therefore many trees from our neighborhood were blown down.

3. Mary makes the best apple turnovers however she only makes them on special occasions.

4. Sally knew skiing down the black diamond hill could be dangerous nevertheless she did it any way.

Put the correct punctuation around the conjunctive adverbs in the following compound sentences.

More about Conjunctive AdverbsThere are many Conjunctive Adverbs.

(however, therefore, consequently, nevertheless, etc.)

Some conjunctive adverbs are actually phrases.

(for example, on the other hand, for instance, etc.)

Conjunctive adverbs may start a simple or complex sentence; however, in either case they will be followed be a comma.

However, they didn’t win the game. (simple sentence)

Consequently, they didn’t win the game when our fullback fumbled the ball on the two yard line. (complex sentence)

Why use Conjunctive Adverbs?

To add variety to your sentences.

To provide a better transition between the two independent clauses. *

** Sometimes conjunctive adverbs are a better word choice than using one of the coordinating conjunctions (fanboys) because they are more precise when showing the relationship between the two independent clauses.

Review of Compound Sentences

Pattern # 1 I , c I

c - coordinating conjunctions (fanboys)

Pattern # 2 I ; I

*Independent clauses must be closely related.

Pattern # 3 I ; cad , I

cad - conjunctive adverbs may be words or phrases

Questions?Place the correct punctuation in the following sentences.

If no punctuation is needed leave it alone.

1. The door swung open hitting me in the face and everybody just laughed at the funny sound.

2. My eye became red and bloodshot consequently my mom took me to the emergency room.

3. The doctor examined my eye closely under a heavy magnified lens however he found no retina damage.

4. The bright light hurt my eye it kept watering throughout the exam.

Time for Homework.