Download Sentence sTructures

SENTENCE
STRUCTURES
Basic Sentence Parts
• Subject: the person, place, thing or idea that
performs the “action”
• Complete subject: all the words that describe the
subject
• Predicate: all the words that tell what the subject
does, has, feels, or is.
• Simple predicate: verb or verb phrase
Simple Sentences
• Pattern: S V
• Can add adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, direct objects,
etc.
Sample simple sentences:
The girl sat.
The pretty girl sat in her chair.
The pretty girl sat quietly in her chair.
Many statues adorned the beautiful gardens.
Students in Mrs. Carlino’s English class understand the simple
sentences in the book.
Compound Subjects
Compound Subjects
Pattern: S [conjunction] S V.
Just like with simple sentences, you can add adjectives, adverbs,
direct objects, predicate nouns, prepositional phrases, etc.
The black dog ran quickly down the street.
+ The white cat ran quickly down the street. =
The black dog and the white cat ran quickly down the street.
My generous aunt gave me a wonderful gift for my 12 th birthday.
My generous uncle gave me a wonderful gift for my 12 th birthday.
My generous aunt and uncle gave me a wonderful gift for my 12 th
birthday.
Compound Verbs
• Pattern: S V [conjunction] V
Just like with simple sentences, you can add adjectives, adverbs, direct objects,
predicate nouns, prepositional phrases, etc.
The beautiful, brown dog ran quickly.
The beautiful, brown dog jumped over the fence.
The beautiful, brown dog ran quickly and jumped over the fence.
My generous uncle bought a wonderful gift for my sister and I.
My generous uncle beautifully wrapped a wonderful gift for my sister and I.
My generous uncle bought and beautifully wrapped a wonderful gift for my
sister and I.
Please note: there is no comma in front of the coordinating conjunction in a
simple sentence with a compound verb…this is the most common extra
comma mistake that I see!
Memorizing the Coordinating Conjunctions
Introducing the FANBOYS:
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Compound Sentences
• Definition: A sentence which contains at least TWO INDEPENDENT
clauses.
• Independent clause—a clause must contain a subject AND a verb;
an independent clause could stand alone as a sentence on its own
• Punctuation considerations:
• Independent clause [, coordinating conjunction] independent clause.
• Independent clause [ ; (conjunctive adverb,)] independent clause.
• Pattern:
SV [, FANBOYS] SV
SV [; (conjunctive adv,)] SV
Compound Sentence Examples
• The dog ran, and the cat followed.
• My German shepherd won first place at the dog show; however, my cat still was
able to chase him around the house.
• I tried to speak Spanish while I was in Mexico, but I don’t think anyone could
understand me.
• John went to football practice, so his mom went shopping.
• Many students did their homework as instructed; therefore, they did very well on
the test.
• The Wizard of Oz is a political allegory; few people would recognize the symbols
today.
Complex sentences
• Definition: a sentence that contains one independent clause and
one or more dependent clauses
• Dependent clause: a clause contains a subject and a verb; dependent clauses begin
with subordinating conjunctions (because, since, if, when) or relative pronouns
(who(m), that, which, whose)
• Be careful of those words that can both be subordinating conjunctions and prepositions
like before:
• Prepositional phrase: Before lunch, I will make sure I hand in my essay.
• Dependent clause: Before I eat lunch, I will make sure I hand in my essay.
• Punctuation considerations:
When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, the clause is
followed by a comma (see above).
When a sentences ends with a dependent clause, it does not need a
comma:
I will only eat lunch after I have turned in my essay.
Complex Sentences (cont’d)
• Punctuation, cont’d
• When a sentence is interrupted by a dependent clause, the clause is usually set off by
commas.
The soldiers, who were the guards of the castle, only would fight if the enemy attacked the castle.
• Sentence patterns
• (Sub. Conj) SV, SV.
DEP, INDEP.
• SV (sub. Conj) SV.
INDEP DEP.
• S (rel. pronoun SV) V. IN, (DEP), DEP.
• If Dorothy had lost the ruby slippers, she could not have returned
home.
• The witch melted when Dorothy splashed water on her.
• The witch who wore the ruby slippers was crushed by Dorothy's
house.
Remember dependent clauses begin with
Subordinating conjunctions
After
As
in order that
Lest
now that
provided (that)
Since
Before
That
Although
In as much
When
Whenever
whereas
wherever
while
than
even though
If
Until
as long as
as much as
soon as
as though
because
even if
though
unless
as if
so that
Compound-Complex Sentences
• Definition: must have three clauses-- two independent clauses
joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) and one
dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
• Punctuation considerations: must follow the rules of compound
AND complex sentences
• Pattern: Indep, [FANBOYS] Indep Dep OR DEP, Indep,
[FANBOYS]Indep
Compound-Complex Examples
Examples:
• Because Rudy was hungry, I looked in the kitchen for a treat, but
the cupboard was bare.
• I put Rudy in the backseat because he likes to ride in the car, and
we drove west on Main Street.
• I stopped at the light on 5 th, and then I rolled down Rudy’s window
after I remembered how much he likes to stick his head out of the
car.
• We got to the pet store soon afterward, and because I know how
much Rudy hates being alone, I took him into the store with me.
Why are these NOT compound-complex?
• In the morning, I usually leave early because the traffic can get bad
on the tollway.
• After I got off work, because of rain, the traffic was backed up for
miles.
Starting with these independent clauses, make 2 compound-complex
sentences:
• I took my car to the shop.
• I believe Chicago is great place to visit in the summertime.