The Simpsons Teach Sentences

Adding Variety to Sentence Structure To make your writing more interesting, you should try to vary your sentences in terms of length and structure. You can make some of your sentences long and others short. Read the two paragraphs on the next page.

Two Paragraphs Read the paragraphs below. Choose the paragraph that is more effective. Paragraph #1 I love living in the city. I have a wonderful view of the entire city. I have an apartment. I can see the Golden Gate Bridge. I can see many cargo ships pass under the bridge each day. I like the restaurants in San Francisco. I can find wonderful food from just about every country. I don’t like the traffic in the city. Paragraph #2 I love living in the city of San Francisco. I have a wonderful view of the entire city from my apartment window. In addition, I can see the Golden Gate Bridge under which many cargo ships pass each day. I also like San Francisco because I can find wonderful restaurants with food from just about every country; however, I don’t like the traffic in the city.

How do you vary sentence structure? You will want to use a variety of sentence structures in your writing. There are three types of sentences we will study in this lesson: - Simple Sentence - Compound Sentence - Complex Sentence

The Simple Sentence Think of an Independent Clause as Marge Simpson! A simple sentence has one independent clause (one subject and a verb): Think of an Independent Clause as Marge Simpson! Marge is an independent woman. She can survive on her own.

Independent (Marge) Clause Just like Marge, an independent clause can survive on its own. It is a complete sentence which expresses a complete thought. Subject + Verb

Examples of Independent (Marge) Clauses SUBJECT SUBJECT VERB VERB Bart does not like to go to school. Lisa loves the saxophone. SUBJECT + VERB SUBJECT VERB Homer does not work hard at the power plant.

The Compound Sentence For  F And  A Nor  N But  B Or  O Yet  Y A compound sentence contains two independent clauses that are joined together. A trick to remembering HOW to join these two clauses together is to use FANBOYS! For  F And  A Nor  N But  B Or  O Yet  Y So  S

Compound Sentence (Marge + , + FANBOYS + Marge) For And Nor But Or Yet So ,

Compound Sentence (Marge + , + FANBOYS + Marge) Bart hates school, so he makes fun of the teachers. Homer loves donuts, and he enjoys spending time at Moe’s.

Dependent Clauses Think of an Dependent Clause as Homer Simpson! A dependent clause cannot survive by itself. It does not express a complete thought. It is NOT a sentence! Think of an Dependent Clause as Homer Simpson! Homer is messed up when he is on his own. Without Marge by his side, things go wrong. He is DEPENDENT on Marge and cannot survive without her.

Examples of Dependent (Homer) Clauses Until the next time I see him When I ran to the yellow house Although I want to get an A in math NOT COMPLETE SENTENCES!

The “AAAWWUBBIS” Words “AAAWWUBBIS” are also known as subordinating conjunctions. Dependent clauses also begin with signal (AAAWWUBBIS) words. We will call these “AAAWWUBBIS” words because they signal the beginning of a Homer clause.

Dependent Clause “AAAWWUBBIS” After Although As When While Until Because Before If Since Although the sun was bright Before class started

Complex Sentences Think of a Complex Sentence as the A complex sentence is a combination of an independent clause and a dependent clause. Think of a Complex Sentence as the partnership between Marge and Homer Simpson!

, Complex Sentences -OR- Homer(D.C.), + Marge (I.C.) Marge (I.C.) + Homer (D.C.) , -OR- Until Homer met Marge, he was a nobody. Homer was a nobody until he met Marge. Until Lisa goes to college, she will have to live with her parents. Lisa will have to live with her parents until she goes to college.

A Rule To Know! A dependent clause (Homer) must have an independent clause (Marge) by it to be a complete sentence.

Let’s Review the Three Types of Sentences! Simple Sentences (Marge) Compound Sentences (Marge, + FANBOYS +Marge) Complex (Homer, + Marge OR Marge + Homer)

Simple Sentences (Marge) Subject + Verb Marge walks to the lake. Homer sleeps too much. Bart is cool. Lisa will want to get a dog. The last “normal” person on earth is Ned.

Let’s make Complex Sentences. The formulas are...

DEPENDENT CLAUSE,

+

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

=

COMPLEX SENTENCE

Examples of Complex Sentence AAAWWUBBIS + Homer, + Marge. When the grass turns green, Homer will have to mow the lawn. After Bart passes third grade, there will be a huge celebration.

OR

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

+

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Examples of Complex Sentence Marge + Homer (NO COMMA) Homer will have to mow the lawn when the grass turns green. There will be a huge celebration when Bart passes third grade.

Let’s practice the different kinds of sentences.

Hart Middle School is ranked #1 in the state of Michigan. Write your answers on your worksheet. Hart Middle School is ranked #1 in the state of Michigan. What kind of sentence is this: Simple, Compound, or Complex? How can you tell?

What kind of sentence is this: Mrs. Leider is quite a strange teacher, but Mrs. Nadlonek, Mrs. Schmidt and Mrs. Lane are even stranger. What kind of sentence is this: Simple, Compound, or Complex? How can you tell?

Although I can’t swim, the beach is a glorious vacation spot. What kind of sentence is this: Simple, Compound, or Complex? How can you tell?