Types of Sentences Boring, Better, Best

Simple Sentence A simple sentence contains a subject (noun or pronoun) and a predicate (verb). It expresses a complete thought.

Simple Sentence Examples of simple sentences: Joe waited for the train. Subject: Joe, Predicate: waited for the train The train was late. Subject: train, Predicate: was late

Simple Sentence Take out your journal and open to your most recent entry. Find TWO simple sentences and copy them onto your note sheet. Share them!

Simple Sentence Simple sentences are okay to use sometimes, but if that is all you use when you write, you sound BORING!!!! Example: We ate cereal for breakfast. It was Apple Jacks. That is my favorite. It was delicious.

From Boring to Better Thankfully, we can add variety to our writing by using different kinds of sentences besides just the BORING SIMPLE SENTENCE! Let’s look at another type of sentence that’s BETTER.

Compound Sentence A compound sentence is made from two independent clauses (simple sentences) hooked together with a comma and a conjunction (FANBOYS!), or a semicolon ;

Compound Sentence Example of compound sentence: Joe waited for the train. (simple) The train was late. (simple) Joe waited for the train, but it was late. (compound)

Compound Sentence Look at your two simple sentences that you wrote from your journal. Combine them into a compound sentence using a conjunction. Record your BETTER sentence onto your note sheet. Share them!

Better to Best Compound sentences can be much BETTER than a BORING simple sentence, but there’s another sentence that’s the BEST.

Complex Sentence A complex sentence is made of one independent clause and one dependent clause.

Complex Sentence Remember an independent clause can stand alone as a sentence: She went to the football game. (Complete sentence)

Complex Sentence A dependent clause CANNOT stand alone. It depends on other words to make it work. Because her brother was playing (Not a complete sentence)

Complex Sentence If we add the independent clause to the dependent clause, we can make our BEST sentence. Because her brother was playing, she went to the football game. Notice we connect them using a comma. If the INDEPENDENT CLAUSE comes first, you DO NOT need a comma If the DEPENDENT CLAUSE comes first, you DO need a comma

Tip Here’s a tip for spotting dependent clauses…many of them begin with one of these words: after although as because before even though if since though unless until when whenever whereas wherever while

BEST!! Look back at your two simple sentences from your journal. Can you think of a way to combine them to make a complex sentence? HINT: You may need to use one of the words from the list we just recorded. Write your BEST sentence onto your note sheet. Share them!

Try It! Read the BORING paragraph about the dog named Chunk. Re-write the paragraph using BETTER (compound) and BEST (complex) sentences. Not every sentence has to be compound or complex.

Chunk My dog’s name is Chunk. He is fat. He likes to eat pizza. His favorite pizza is pepperoni. He usually orders it from Papa John’s.

Label It! Go back and label each sentence you wrote as: Simple Compound (contains a conjunction) Complex (contains an independent and a dependent clause)

Share It! Share your new paragraph with your neighbors or with the class. Doesn’t is sound so much better?

Scary Starters It was a cold Halloween night when I saw the... The mad scientist was creating a new monster that could... The large cauldron of purple liquid started to boil when... I got an eerie feeling when I heard... The mysterious object started floating in the air and... The Halloween pumpkin turned into a... The black cat started to crouch and hiss when... Something in the closet was making a strange noise, so I opened the door and... I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw... As I carefully entered the haunted house, the door shut behind me and...