The Phrase and the Clause Sentence Structure

Simple Sentences  Simple Sentence – has one independent clause and no subordinate clause  Note: It may have a compound subject, compound verb or both  Ex:  My mother cooks almost every night.  Argentina and Chile are in South America.  Jeannette read Stuart Little and reported on it.  The acrobats and jugglers did amazing tricks and were rewarded with a standing ovation.

Compound Sentences  Compound Sentence – consists of two or more independent clauses, usually joined by a comma and a connecting word  Note:  Usually joined by a coordinating conjunction  And but sofornororyet  Generally connects simple sentences  A comma usually comes before the conjunction  Ex:  I forgot my lunch, but Dad ran to the bus with it.  She likes sweets, yet she seldom eats them.

Compound Sentences  Note:  Usually a sentence is compound if a subject is repeated  Sometimes the independent clauses in a compound sentence are joined by a semicolon: EX:  The blue one is mine; it has my initials on it.  The spider is not an insect; it is an arachnid.

Practice Compound or simple?  My dad and I like tacos, and we’re making them for dinner.  compound  Some trees and shrubs live thousands of years.  simple  It rained, but we marched in the parade anyway.  compound  Mr. Edwards will lead the singing, for Ms. Cruz is ill.  compound  My aunts, uncles and cousins from Costa Rica visited us last summer.  simple  I liked this movie best; it was more exciting than the others.  compound