Sentence Structure

1. Sentence Structure

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

3. 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.

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

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

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

7. 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.

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

9. 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!

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

11. 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.

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

13. 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!

14. 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?

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

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

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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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!

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

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

24. 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.