1. Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
Sentence Structures
Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

2. Simple Sentence
It can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought.
It includes at least one subject (S) and a verb (V).
It may have more than one subject or verb.
It is also called an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE because it can stand alone as a sentence.
We will use the symbol “I” to represent it.

3. Simple Sentences
To begin, label the sentence with the subject(s) and verb(s).
To determine the subject ask yourself, “Who or what is this sentence about?”
To determine the verb, ask yourself, “What about the subject or what is it doing?”

4. Simple Sentences S V SV - John walked the dog around the block. S V V
SVV - John walked the dog and fed him dinner.

5. Simple Sentence Structures
S S V
SSV John and Liz walked the dog.
SSVV John and Liz walked the dog and V
fed him.

6. Simple Sentence Practice
Label the subjects and verbs to determine if a sentence is a SV, SSV, SVV, or SSVV.
S V
A sneeze can travel as fast as 100 miles and hour.
S S V
A cow and horse do not have the same type of hooves.

7. Simple Sentence Practice
S V
Each second the brain receives and V
translates 100 million nerve messages from
your body.

8. Simple Sentences
REMEMBER
Even though there may be more than one subject or verb, it is still a simple sentence.

9. Simple Sentences REVIEW
A simple sentence is also known as an independent clause (I).
A sentence (independent clause) may be made up of:
SV or
SVV or
SSV or
SSVV

10. We can create a formula to represent compound sentences.
If I = Independent Clause (simple sentence),
Then:
I, (conj) I

11. Compound Sentences
Coordinating conjunctions (Conj) may be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But Or
Yet So

12. Compound Sentences
2 simple sentences joined by a COMMA and a FANBOYS word (coordinating conjunction).
Examples:
S V S V
John walked the dog, and Liz fed him later.
S S V S V
John and Liz walked the dog, but Liz fed him.

13. Compound Sentences 1. Ships in bottles fascinate me but I V
Label the sentences with the subjects and verbs and underline the FANBOYS word.
Don’t forget to add the comma.
S V S
1. Ships in bottles fascinate me but I V
never understood them.

14. Compound Sentence Practice
S V
2. The ship fits in the bottle or the
S V
bottle fits around the ship.
3. The ships are in the bottles but the
S V
bottles have no seams.

15. Compound Sentence Practice
S V S V
4.Once Jack built a ship, and I watched.
S V S
5.He carved a hull from soft wood, and I V
followed his every move.

16. Compound sentence practice
S V
6.The masts were thin sticks, and
S V
the rigging was thread.
7.Then Jack loosened a string, and
the rigging toppled forward.

17. Compound Sentence practice
S V
8.He gently slid the boat into the bottle,
S V
and I held the string tightly.
S V
9.Then I pulled the string firmly, and
S V
Jack hooked it into place.