Sentences and Complex Sentences

Sentences A sentence needs to make sense on its own. However, please note that a sentence can use a pronoun such as he, she or it in place of the object, person or animal’s name. For example, it might say “She rode a bike” instead of “Zara rode a bike” or “The young woman rode a bike.” Sentences that use pronouns often follow sentences that use the person, object or animal’s name. For example: “Zara rode a bike. She preferred cycling to catching the bus.” A sentence needs at least one clause, but can contain more than one clause.

Here are some action (doing word) verbs: runrunningran writewritingwrotewritten meetmeeting met watchwatchingwatched eateatingate eaten drinkdrinkingdrank drunk gogoingwent gone The ‘Tense Table’ sheet can help you to use the correct version of a verb.

Here are some state of being verbs: bewill be arewereamis washavecanhas beenhave beenare being is being

A verb phrase is a group (two or more words) that work together to form the sentence’s verb: Examples He has been to Italy I haven’t been to Italy (I have not been to Italy.)

Exercise Use the blue pen to underline the sentence’s subject and the red pen to underline the verb/verb phrase. I am a student now. I will be in a new class next September. You are in my class.

We were in the same class last year. She is being helpful today. The children are being playful. She was in France last week.

Verbs acting as linking verbs Some verbs pretend to be state of being verbs. Examples: “The tree is tall” could become “The tree has grown tall”; “The biscuits are delicious” could become “The biscuits taste delicious” ; “I was happy about this” could become “I felt happy about this.” (Adapted from

Complex Sentences A complex sentence contains a main clause and a dependent clause. A main clause can exist as a sentence on its own, but a dependent (or subordinate) clause depends on a main clause in order to make sense. When a dependent clause is split from its main sentence by a full stop or a semi colon, we call this a fragmented sentence. For example: When we got in the car. We rolled down the windows. ( examples-quiz.html) examples-quiz.html

The dependent clause needs to be linked to the main clause: When we got in the car, we rolled down the windows. 1st action 2 nd action “We rolled down the windows” makes sense by itself and could be a sentence in its own right. Therefore, it is a main clause. “When we got in the car” does not make sense by itself, because more information is needed. If the sentence simply said, “we got in the car”, this could be a main sentence too. However, the word when links the two clauses together by telling us that something happened after or at the same time as the first action.

Tips: If a clause or phrase starts with one of the words below, you need to add a comma and another clause: before, after, because, since, in order to, although, even though, if, when, while despite, in spite.

Examples Before I come to class, I need to check that I’ve brought enough pens. After I finish class, I plan to go into town. Because I love music, I always take my MP3 player with me. Since I left school, I have done a number of different jobs.

Although I love dogs, I’m not allowed to keep one in my flat. I’ll get better at dancing if I keep practicing my routines. When I get paid, I’m going on a shopping trip. It’s not safe to cross while the red light is showing. Despite government warnings, binge drinking is still a problem in the UK.