CLAUSES and COMPOUND SENTENCES

RULE ONE: A noun is a person, place or a thing. EXAMPLE: Grandpa EXAMPLE: Disneyland EXAMPLE: It RULE TWO: A verb is a word that expresses action EXAMPLE: Run EXAMPLE: Succeed EXAMPLE: Is

RULE THREE: A noun and a verb joined together is called a “CLAUSE” EXAMPLE: Grandpa runs EXAMPLE: Disneyland succeeds EXAMPLE: It is NOTICE: These sound like baby sentences.

RULE FOUR: We call the main noun in the clause the “SUBJECT.” EXAMPLE: Boris gave cookies to Betty. NOTICE: Boris is the subject because he is doing something. EXAMPLE: Every October, Skippy buys socks. NOTICE: Skippy is the subject because he is doing something.

RULE FIVE: We call the main verb in a clause the “PREDICATE” EXAMPLE: She enjoys running. NOTICE: Only the word enjoys shows what the subject is doing. EXAMPLE: They will help you pack up. NOTICE Some predicates are more than one word long.

RULE SIX: It is okay to have more than one predicate or subject in one clause. EXAMPLE: He and Jane run. EXAMPLE: He and Jane run and jump. EXAMPLE: Jane runs and jumps. RULE SEVEN: A clause can be a sentence by itself. This is called a “SIMPLE SENTENCE.” EXAMPLE: Sometimes he cooks dinner. EXAMPLE: California is in the west.

RULE EIGHT: When two clauses appear in the same sentence, it is called a “COMPOUND SENTENCE.” EXAMPLE: He runs, and you knit blankets. EXAMPLE: It was breakfast, so Ed and Al ate eggs. EXAMPLE: She danced and played, and he watched. NOTICE: You MUST use a comma with these.

RULE NINE: Compound sentences use “FANBOYS” (coordinating conjunctions) to combine sentences. There are Seven FANBOYS For: “We will celebrate, FOR today is special” And: “He writes, AND she reads and thinks.” Nor: “I do not swim, NOR do I jog.” But: “Dad juggles, BUT Mom does not.” Or: “You and him can clean, OR you can organize.” Yet: “It is time, YET I am not ready.” So: “We are late, SO we should hurry.”

CLAUSES AND COMPOUND SENTENCES EXERCISES On a separate paper, copy and add the comma where necessary: 1.Let us eat for I am hungry. 2.Alvin and Theodore are here and we should visit them. 3.Betty does not like to exercise nor does she eat healthy. 4.Texas is bigger but California has more people. 5.Would you like this here or should I move it? 6.I think this is a good idea yet I am not sure. 7.The crowd was angry so the doctor spoke with them and brought peace. 8.Movies based on books are fun but they leave things out. 9.College is important so you should choose yours carefully. 10.Koalas and Kangaroos do not look alike but they are both marsupials.

1.Let us eat for I am hungry. ANSWER: Let us eat, for I am hungry.

2. Alvin and Theodore are here and we should visit them. ANSWER: Alvin and Theodore are here, and we should visit them.

3. Betty does not like to exercise nor does she eat healthy. ANSWER: Betty does not like to exercise, nor does she eat healthy.

4. Texas is bigger but California has more people. ANSWER: Texas is bigger, but California has more people.

5. Would you like this here or should I move it? ANSWER: Would you like this here, or should I move it?

6. I think this is a good idea yet I am not sure. ANSWER: I think this is a good idea, yet I am not sure.

7. The crowd was angry so the doctor spoke with them and brought peace. ANSWER: The crowd was angry, so the doctor spoke with them and brought peace.

8. Movies based on books are fun but they leave things out. ANSWER: Movies based on books are fun, but they leave things out.

9. College is important so you should choose yours carefully. ANSWER: College is important, so you should choose yours carefully.

10. Koalas and Kangaroos do not look alike but they are both marsupials. ANSWER: Koalas and Kangaroos do not look alike, but they are both marsupials.