Download COMPLEX SENTENCE STRUCTURES

COMPLEX SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
NOTES
Main
Points
Topic
Contains one
Complex Sentence
independent clause
connected to
one or more
dependent clause(s).
•Where is the
independent clause?
• Dependent Clause?
• Clues?
• Ex:
Because Helen’s alarm
didn’t go off, she
missed her bus.
Topic
Review:
Independent
Clause
New:
Dependent
Clause
•What is the base word of
dependent?
•How does that connect to
the function of the
dependent clause?
Main Points
• A complete sentence which
contains a subject and a
verb and can stand alone
She missed her bus.
• A unit that contains a
subject and verb but can’t
stand alone because it
begins with a connecting
word known as a
subordinating conjunction
Because Helen’s alarm didn’t
go off
Subordinating
Conjunction
Sub = below (in rank)
Ordinate = main unit
Conjunction = joining word
There are 2 types of
SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
that introduce
Dependent Clauses:
•A word that helps show
the relationship between
information in the
dependent clause and
information in the
independent clause.
• Ex: After I took a short
nap, I felt better.
Pass out SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS LIST.
A.
Subordinating
Conjunctions
that Introduce
Adverb
Clauses:
ANSWERS “WHEN”?
•WHERE?
• WHY?
?
•UNDER WHAT
CONDITIONS?
•TO WHAT EXTENT?
• These subordinating conjunctions
answer the questions …
“why”, “when”, “where”, “in what manner”,
“under what conditions”, or “to what
extent” something happened.
.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
after
although
as
as if
as long as
because
?
before
even though
if
in order that ?
since
though
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
while
so that
than
?
B.
Subordinating
Conjunctions
to Introduce
Adjective
Clauses
•Which refers to things
and animals
•Who, whose, and whom
refer to people
•That usually refers to
things
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who (Whoever)
Whose
Which
Whom
Where
That
• Adjective clauses answer
“Which one?” and “What kind?”
about a noun in the sentence.
• Example: The lady who
drives our bus is crazy.
• Box the Dependent Clause, circle the
subordinating conjunctions, and underline
the independent clause. Label S/V in both
clauses.
COMPLEX
CAUTION
• A fragment exists if a
dependent clause is not
attached to an
independent clause.
Examples:
• Because I am going to my
grandparents’ house.
• Where I put my binder.
• Until I get my grades up.
• Since the sun came up.
Be CAREFUL when writing or checking over your sentences so that you don’t
mistake a fragment for a complete complex sentence.
• Because she was in a hurry.
F / CCXS
• If you go to Starbucks, please bring me back a
large coffee.
F / CCXS
• Sandra had just finished her homework when the
phone rang.
F / CCXS
• Although it was getting very late.
F/ CCXS
• Whenever there is a full moon.
F/ CCXS
In the following sentences, BOX the DEPENDENT CLAUSE and UNDERLINE
the INDEPENDENT CLAUSE. Label subjects and verbs in both clause types.
CIRCLE THE WORD that keeps the dependent clause from being independent.
•
Whenever Ms. Franny has one of her fits, it reminds me of
Winn Dixie in a thunderstorm.
ADV or ADJ?--Kate Di Camillo, Because of Win Dixie
•
The boy who sits in front of me talks too much.
•
Catherine had loaded her bag with the leftovers from Sunday
dinner when gunfire slapped through the woods. ADV or ADJ?--
ADV or ADJ?--
--Truman Capote, The Grass Harp
•
Because she is holding the microphone so close to her face,
each moment of contact sounds like a heavy blow.
ADV or ADJ?--
•
–Myla Goldberg, The Bee Season
What do you notice about dependent clauses and complex
sentences? Which have introductory dependent clauses, interrupter,
and closer? What do you notice about commas?
• Introductory Clause
Complex Sentence
Patterns
What is the
advantage of having a
dependent clause
connected to an
independent clause?
(Hint—Take it out and read
the sentence without it.)
Since David was
terrified (of the
dark), he
hurried home.
– Notice: A comma comes
after an introductory
dependent clause.
– Box the dependent clause, circle the
subordinating conjunction, and underline
subjects and verbs in the independent
clause.
Introductory Clause Pattern
SC Dependent Clause
»
(Adverb Clause)
,
independent clause
• Interrupter Clause
The sounds that filled
the forest scared him.
* Interrupters will often be
adjective clauses
placed next to the
nouns they describe.
Interrupter Clause Pattern
Subject
• SC Dependent Clause
(Adjective Clause)
verb
• Closer Clause
–He trembled
in fear as the wind
blew.
Notice: Usually, no commas are
included if the dependent
clause comes at the end of the
sentence.
Closer Pattern
Independent Clause
• SC Dependent Clause
(Adj. or Adv. Clause)
Combine
Short, Choppy
Sentences
with
Dependent
Clauses
Compare this to a
compound
sentence:
• Instead of the choppy
sentences
– We were late. We were
expelled.
• Because we were late, we were
expelled.
OR
• We were expelled because we
were late.
We were late, and
we were expelled.
Which flows more
smoothly and
indicates a clearer
relationship between
clauses?
•
Notice the comma separates the introductory
clause from the main clause but it is not needed if
the dependent clause ends the sentence.
Combine Choppy Sentences with
Subordinating Conjunctions:
• We ate breakfast. We left on our trip.
(Combine with Adverb Clause)
• Example: Richard plays in a rock band.
He is dating Jessica. (Combine with
Adjective Clause)
One last
note of
CAUTION—
Subordinating
Conjunctions
vs.
Prepositions
• Some SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS look like
Prepositions.
– Ex: after, before, until, since
• The difference is that a
SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTION IS followed by
a complete sentence; a
PREPOSITION is only followed
by an object (noun).
• Ex:
– Before I left for school, I fed the
dog. (SC-complex sentence)
– I fed the dog before school.
(Simple sentence, PP w/object )
Identify Dependent Clauses
Bracket the dependent clauses, circle the subordinating conjunctions, and
underline the independent clauses. LABEL SUBJECTS AND VERBS. Correct
the punctuation when necessary.
Note: The subordinate conjunction IS PART OF THE DEPENDENT
CLAUSE.
• The dog barked because it was lonely.
• When the dog barked, the baby woke up.
• Mother sang a lullaby when the baby woke up.
• Finally, the dog that barked in the night fell
asleep.
• Since the dog started barking the baby who
is usually very sweet has been crying nonstop.
• The dog which was called Rover was
barking.
• He will continue to bark until his owner
brings him inside for the night.
• The dog lives at the house where the blue
Mustang is parked.