THE FORMULA FOR FANTASTIC SENTENCE STRUCTURE

SENTENCES ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF GREAT WRITING Authors use different types of sentences to keep the reader’s attention. The type of sentences they choose can build up a sense of suspense in their writing, or add shock or drama to a scene.

Long sentences – to build suspense For example: As the door slammed shut, Billy turned around to peer into the room, gripped his torch and advanced uneasily.

Short sentences – to increase speed or deliver a shock For example: I put my head close to the wood. Nothing. Absolute silence. I put my hand on the door-handle hesitantly. I felt my heart begin to race. Drawing in several deep breaths, I tried the door. It would not open. I tried it once more and pushed it slightly with my shoulder. It did not give.

Can you remember the key features of a simple sentence? A capital letter Sentence ending punctuation ( . ? or !) A subject (who/what the sentence is about) A predicate (what the subject is doing, the verb) One complete idea

Can you write me a simple sentence? Write three simple sentences in your workbook about your favourite food or sport. For example: Ice-cream is a delicious treat. Soccer is a game of great skill.

Let’s build on that To include more information in your writing, you can use compound sentences. Compound sentences have two main ideas (independent clauses) that could stand alone as a sentence. The two ideas in a compound sentence are joined together using a coordinating conjunction.

COMPOUND SENTENCES In these sentences, can you spot the connectives? It was cold so we had to stay inside. The wind blew through the trees and the leaves began to rustle. My friend gave me a sweet but i had stomach ache.

Coordinating conjunctions for and nor but or yet so FANBOYS

Now your turn… Add another idea (clause) to your simple sentences to turn them into compound sentences. Remember, you need to use a coordinating conjunction from the list. For example: Ice-cream is a delicious treat and it is always better with topping. Soccer is a game of great skill yet it can be played by people of all age.

A different way to add detail Complex sentences – these sentences have one independent clause (main idea) and one dependent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone by itself as a sentence, as it is not a complete thought. The dependent clause acts as an adjective or an adverb, describing the noun or verb further. So it’s like you have one key point and you add some detail about that idea.

COMPLEX SENTENCES Complex sentences are linked together with subordinating conjunctions. after although as because before even if even though if however rather than since so that than though unless until whether while Complex sentences can also be linked together with relative pronouns how that what when where which who whom whose why

COMPLEX SENTENCES EXAMPLES: Ice-cream is a delicious treat, however you can’t eat it every day. Soccer is a game of great skill, though it can be frustrating to watch. Although the man looked suspicious, nobody stopped him. Stay in the pool until Mum yells for us. Computers have come a long way since they came on the market.

Now it’s your turn… Can you write three complex sentences about these topics Homework Summer A movie Remember to think of your main idea that could be a sentence all alone (independent clause), then add some extra detail (dependent clause) using a subordinating conjunction.

SO FAR WE HAVE… One main idea Two main ideas joined together (FANBOYS) Simple One main idea Compound Two main ideas joined together (FANBOYS) Complex One main idea with added detail (subordinate)

There is one more… the Big Kahuna! A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Examples Independent clause Dependent clause Independent clause Jennifer sat in the chair, which was a dark red recliner, and she read all evening. Jim’s mum went to the store because it’s his birthday, and she bought him a present.  Independent clause Dependent clause Independent clause So it is a compound sentence, with added detail.

Can you make these Compound sentences into Compound-Complex sentences? There are a lot of books on the shelf and I’m sure I’ll find one that I like. Mohammad reads graphic novels and Jin reads horror stories. I would have bought the shoes but they were too expensive. Don’t forget to go back to the list of subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns lists.

And that’s all of them! Simple Sentences Compound Sentences One main idea Compound Sentences Two ideas joined together using co-ordinating conjunctions Complex Sentences One main idea, with additional information added using subordinate conjunctions Compound – Complex Sentences Two main ideas joined together using co-ordinating conjunctions, with an added phrase for detail

CLIPS FOR REVIEW Simple, compound and complex sentences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWmKnrtlTHU Compound vs complex sentences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndar2CUZo1c