1. Sentence Variety: Sentence Types and Patterns
Grammar Boot Camp
Sentence Variety:
Sentence Types and Patterns
Adapted from

2. Your Mission: To Study Sentence Types To Study Sentence Patterns
To Write with Varied Syntax

3. Phrases/ Clauses
Phrase: Group of related words, missing a subject and/or verb
Clause: Group of words containing both a subject and a verb
Independent Clause: Stands Alone
Dependent Clause: Does NOT Stand Alone
Also known as Subordinate Clause
Usually has a subordinating conjunction

4. Common Subordinating Conjunctions
Before
After
When
Although
While
Because If
That
Since B A W I T S

5. Relative pronouns
A relative pronoun "relates" a dependent clause to the rest of the sentence. It functions as a “subject.”
A relative pronoun is found only in sentences with more than one clause. A sentence starting w/ a relative pronoun cannot stand alone.
In modern English there are five relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, and whose.

6. Relative Pronoun Examples
He who laughs last laughs best.
The dog that ate my homework was really mean.
He started the Daily Show, which was the first news show of its kind.

7. Phrase/ Clause Practice
Identify the following as phrases, dependent clauses, or independent clauses.
In the middle of the room.
When the girl ate breakfast.
She loves puppies.
Because he ate play-dough.
He threw up. P DC IC DC IC

8. Overview
Patterns of independent and dependent clauses create 4 types of sentences
Four Sentence Types:
Simple Sentence (1 IC)
Compound Sentence (2 ICs)
Complex Sentence (1 IC, 1 DC)
Compound/Complex Sentence (2 ICs, 1 DC)

9. Simple Sentence Pattern: IC.
Don’t get confused by phrases. A simple sentence can have many phrases.
Don’t get confused by conjunctions. If they aren’t adding two full independent clauses together, you still have a simple sentence.

10. Examples Examples: 1. The brown dog is named Charlie.
2. The brown dog with the red collar always barks loudly.
3. Charlie barked and growled loudly.
4. The tall, good-looking boy with the curly blond hair laughed uproariously at his best friend’s suggestion.

11. Compound Sentences (2 ICs)

12. Compound Sentence : a Pattern: IC , for IC.
and
nor
but Coordinating Conjunctions or
yet so
Example: Charlie barks at nothing, and my mom goes crazy.
FANBOYS!

13. Compound Sentence: A More examples…
My mom didn’t want Charlie, but my sister convinced her.
My sister is in Chicago, so my mom is left to take care of him by herself.
My mom claims she can’t wait to get rid of him, but she secretly loves him.

14. Compound Sentence : B Pattern: IC; IC.
Example: I went to the store; I bought some milk.

15. Compound Sentence : c Pattern: IC ; therefore , IC.
however
moreover Conjunctive Adverbs
furthermore
Example: I would love to have a cat; however, I know I don’t have time to take care of it.

16. Easy Identification…
Look for the FANBOYS!
Where does the comma go?

17. Complex Sentences (DC + IC)

18. Complex Sentence : a Pattern: DC, IC.
Example: When my cat Blacky died,
I was very upset.

19. Complex Sentence : b Pattern: IC DC.
Example: I like cats better than dogs because they are more independent.

20. Easy Identification…
Look for the BA WAWBITS!
Where does the comma go?

21. Compound-Complex Sentences

22. Compound/Complex Sentence : a
Pattern: IC , for IC DC.
and
nor
but Coordinating Conjunctions or
yet so
Example: We decided that the movie was too violent, but our children, who like to watch scary movies, thought that we were wrong.

23. Compound/Complex Sentence : b
Pattern: IC DC , for IC.
and
nor
but Coordinating Conjunctions or
yet so
Example: Here is the money that I owe you, and I am happy to be free of debt.

24. Compound/Complex Sentence : c
Pattern: DC, IC , for IC.
and
nor
but Coordinating Conjunctions or
yet so
Example: Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with.

25. Easy Identification…
Look for BOTH a FANBOYS and a BA WAWBITS!

26. Now It’s Your Turn:
Identify the sentence type (simple, compound, complex, compound/complex) for each item below:
I was scared when my cat ran away.
Charlie can be very difficult, but I still love him because he is so cute.
Charlie got away from his leash one day, but he didn’t even try to run away.
I am happy that my mom has to take care of him.

27. Answer key:
Complex
Compound-Complex
Compound

28. How well do you understand?

29. Congratulations!
You are now a master of the four grammatical sentence types!

30. Q: What is an Independent Clause?
A: An independent clause is a group of related words containing a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. For more information on independent clauses, sign up for Building Muscle: Phrases and Clauses of Grammar Boot Camp.
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31. Q: What is a Dependent Clause?
A: A dependent clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb; it does not, however, contain a complete thought. Thus, it cannot stand alone. For more information on dependent clauses, sign up for Building Muscle: Phrases and Clauses of Grammar Boot Camp.
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32. Q: What is a Coordinating Conjunction?
A: A coordinating conjunction joins independent clauses as well as other sentence elements of equal weight or function. The following is a list of coordinating conjunctions, commonly referred to as the “FANBOYS”:
for
and
nor
but FANBOYS (taken from the first letter of each word) or
yet so
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33. Q: What is a Conjunctive Adverb?
A: A conjunctive adverb indicates a relation between independent clauses. The following is a list of common conjunctive adverbs:
accordingly consequently indeed
also finally instead
anyway furthermore likewise
as a result hence meanwhile
besides however moreover
certainly incidentally nevertheless
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