SENTENCE STRUCTURE

1. SENTENCE STRUCTURE

2. There are 4 structures of sentences. • Simple • Compound • Complex • Compound-Complex

3. CLAUSES • In order to determine what the structure of a sentence is, you must determine what type of clauses are included in the sentence.

4. INDEPENDENT CLAUSESES A part of a sentence that can stand alone. It is also called a main clause. EX). The dog dropped to the ground, but he remained alert. DEPENDENT CLAUSES A part of sentence that cannot stand alone. EX.) When it began to rain, the fire went out. Independent vs. Dependent

5. Simple Sentences • A simple sentence contains one independent clause. • EXS.) Cindy wanted a hat. She got a dress. Cindy found jeans on sale.

6. Compound Sentences • A compound sentence consists of more than one independent clauses joined by either a semicolon or a regular conjunction. • EXS). 1. Dan’s father works at Macy’s and Dan buys his clothes there. 2. His father sells shoes; he prefers the suit department.

7. Guided Practice • Write each sentence. Underline each independent clause. Circle the conjunction that joins the clauses. • EX. Cats vary in size, and many have different coloring. • 1. Wild cats often hunt at night, but some prefer dusk or dawn • 2. Cats see well in daylight, and their eyes adjust to darkness. • 3. Cats may have soft voices, or they may have penetrating calls. • 4. Grassland leopards are tan with black spots, but forest leopards are much darker. • 5. Lions live in Africa, but most of them are in national parks.

8. Complex Sentences • A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. EXS.) • Though we were hungry, none of us ate. • Since she wasn’t hungry, I ate her food.

9. Subordinating Conjunctions Dependent clauses are signaled by subordinating conjunctions. These are the most common. They start off adverb clauses. After Because Since Though While When

10. Relative Pronouns • Dependent clauses are always signaled by relative pronouns. Relative pronouns start off adjective clauses. • That • Which • Who • Whom • Whose • Whoever • Whomever • It can also begin with where or when

11. TELL WHETHER EACH GROUP OF WORDS IS A DEPENDENT CLAUSE.***Remember*** “Can it stand alone?” 1. Because the owls were awake. 2. Every sound frightened us. 3. The wind brushed our cheeks. 4. After a gentle rainfall. 5. While the racket continued. 6. We dashed through the dark woods. 7. Though we didn’t notice. • Who was nicknamed Johnny Appleseed.

12. Compound-Complex Sentences • A compound-complex sentence contains more than one main clause and at least one dependent clause. EX.) When Casey came up to bat, the bases were loaded and there were two outs.

13. For the following sentences, underline the relative pronoun and write the dependent clause. • Kim, who is very fashionable, rolls her eyes a lot. • The table that has a broken leg is propped up with books. • Most of our dry erase markers, which are used a lot everyday, are drying up. • Many students who do not do their homework will get a much lower grade than they expect. • Good students do their homework, which helps them do better on their tests.

14. For the following sentences, underline the subordinating conjunction and write the dependent clause. • After winter break, we will work a lot more on our reading skills. • There will be no vocabulary due next week since there is no school next Friday. • Whenever there is a break from school, most of us sleep later. • Sometimes I wish we went to school year-round because they get more breaks. • If you travel over the break, you might run into a lot of traffic.