Understanding Sentences Sentence Structure Understanding Sentences

What is a sentence? A complete thought? Made of a subject and a verb? Made of a subject and a predicate? Which of these is a sentence? The beautiful girl. Running down the street very quickly. Running downhill is dangerous. Because of the sunny weather this weekend. Until Friday, I’m not going to have time to hang out.

Easy definition of a sentence A sentence is made up of independent and dependent clauses. How you put them together determines what kind of sentence you have.

Independent Clause Subject + Verb= IC What is a subject? Something that is a noun or acts like a noun: Dancer Sylvia The students Spinning What is a verb? A word that shows action, state-of-being or tense: is was run jump

Dependent Clause The easiest way to make a dependent clause (or find one) is to look for subordinating conjunction: because until as soon as before If you have one of these, you have a dependent clause—easy!!

Putting sentences together There are five basic types of sentences: Simple Compound Complex Compound/Complex (mixed) Fragment

Simple Sentence A simple sentence (SS) is made up of ONE independent clause (IC): Arnulfo ran down the street. Running is hard. Claudia and Benjy were dating.

Compound Sentence A compound sentence (CD) has TWO or more IC’s, joined together by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semi-colon (;): Arnulfo ran down the street, and he tripped and fell. Running is hard, but it gets easier if you practice. Claudia and Benjy were dating; Claudia is dating Noe now.

Complex Sentence A complex sentence (CX) is made up of ONE IC and ONE (or more) Dependent Clauses (DC): REMEMBER: How do you know if you have a DC? Find the subordinating conjunction!! Arnulfo ran down the street because Jeni was chasing him. As soon as we get there, we will call Benjy.

Compound/Complex (Mixed) Sentence A Compound/Complex (CD/CX) or mixed sentence is at least TWO IC’s and ONE DC: Arnulfo ran down the street, and he tripped and fell because he wasn’t being careful. Running is hard because I’m out of shape, but it gets easier if I practice.

Fragment A fragment is to be used RARELY. It is made of ONE DC. Because of the rain yesterday. While running. Until Friday.

You try! Using the file in our folder, create your own IC: Jorge is noisy. IC: Suzi is quiet. DC: As soon as class begins.

Put them together! Simple Sentence (SS): Compound Sentence (CD): , but IC: Jorge is noisy Simple Sentence (SS): Compound Sentence (CD): , but Complex Sentence (CX): OR , IC: Jorge is noisy IC: Suzi is quiet. IC: Suzi is quiet DC: as soon as class begins. IC: Suzi is quiet. DC: As soon as class begins

Compound/Complex Sentence (CD/CX): , and , but , , and IC: Suzi is quiet IC: Jorge is noisy DC: as soon as class begins. IC: Suzi is quiet IC: Jorge is noisy DC: as soon as class begins DC: As soon as class begins. IC: Jorge is noisy IC: Suzi is quiet