Sentences Simple, Compound, Complex Mrs. Demos OMMS 2008

Simple Sentences (Independent Clauses)  Simple Sentence: a sentence with only one complete thought. It may have more than one subject and more than one verb.  Example: Bill danced in the club.

Compound Subject  Two or more subjects that act on the SAME verb.  Example: Bill and Mary danced in the club. –This is a simple sentence with two subjects that act on the same verb.

Compound Verb  Two or more verbs that share the same subject.  Example: Bill ran and jumped during the game.

Both compound subject and verb  Some simple sentences can have a compound subject and compound verb.  Example: Bill and Mary walked to the store and bought potato chips.

Compound Sentences (Two Independent Clauses)  A compound sentence is a sentence that consists of two simple sentences.  Example: Bill won the race, and he received a gold medal.

Coordinating Conjunctions  Coordinating conjunctions are words that are used to connect other words and groups of words. In compound sentences, coordinating conjunctions, along with a comma, connect the two simple sentences.

FANBOYS  Coordinating conjunctions –For –And –Nor –But –Or –Yet –So

Rule #1  Compound sentences connected with a coordinating conjunction MUST HAVE at least one subject and at least one verb on BOTH sides of the comma and conjunction.

Semicolon  Use a semicolon in compound sentences to separate the two simple sentences. The semicolon REPLACES the comma and the coordinating conjunction.  Example: Bill won the race; he received a gold medal.

Rule #2  Compound sentences separated by a semicolon MUST HAVE at least one subject and at least one verb on BOTH sides of the semicolon.

Complex Sentences (An independent clause and a dependent clause)  A sentence that combines a simple sentence and a subordinate clause.  A subordinate clause is a group of words that CANNOT STAND ALONE as a simple sentence. They need to be connected to a simple sentence.

Rule #3  Subordinate clauses that begin with subordinating conjunctions are known as adverb clauses. Many complex sentences include adverb clauses.

Rule #4  When the clause with the subordinating conjunction BEGINS the sentence, you need to separate the simple sentence from the clause with a comma. –Example: After Bill won the race, he received a medal.  You do not need a comma when the subordinating conjunction appears in the MIDDLE of the sentence. –Example: Bill received a medal after he won the race.

Subordinating Conjunctions  AfterWhileAs long as  BecauseAsSince  ThoughIfWhen  WhereasUnlessAs though  AlthoughAs ifSo that  BeforeIn order that  TillUntilWhere HINT: You should memorize this list of subordinating conjunctions because their appearance in a sentence is a big clue that the sentence is complex.