Grade 8 English Grammar & Conventions Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

Back to basics….. What does a complete sentence have? Every complete sentence contains two parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject is what (or whom) the sentence is about, while the predicate tells something about the subject. In the following sentences, the predicate is enclosed in braces ({}), while the subject is highlighted. Judy {runs}. Judy and her dog {run on the beach every morning}.

Sentence Types There are three different sentence types that writers employ: Simple sentences Compound sentences Complex sentences

Simple Sentences Some English sentences are very basic: Shakespeare was a writer. Einstein said something. The Inuit are a people. You could write an entire essay using only simple sentences like these: William Shakespeare was a writer. He wrote plays. It was the Elizabethan age. One play was Hamlet. It was a tragedy. Hamlet died. The court died too. However, this does not sound interesting and will not get you a good mark!

Simple Sentences All of the following are simple sentences, because each contains only one clause: Ice melts. The ice melts quickly. The ice on the river melts quickly under the warm March sun. Lying exposed without its blanket of snow, the ice on the river melts quickly under the warm March sun. As you can see, a simple sentence can be quite long -- it is a mistake to think that you can tell a simple sentence from a compound sentence or a complex sentence simply by its length.

Compound Sentences A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences joined by conjunctions like "and," "but," and "or": Simple = Canada is a rich country. Simple = Still, it has many poor people. Compound = Canada is a rich country, but still it has many poor people.

Coordinating Conjunctions The easiest way to identify a compound sentence is by looking for the conjunction after a comma. Here is a way to remember what word constitutes a conjunction: F - for A - and N - nor B - but O - or Y - yet S - so

Compound Sentences Which of these is a compound sentence? The boy went to see his grandma and grandpa in Whistler. The 16 year old boy went to see his grandma and grandpa in the winter wonderland of Whistler. The 16 year old boy went to see his grandma and grandpa in Whistler, and he brought them Christmas presents. The boy from Vancouver brought his grandma and grandma Christmas presents when he visited them in Whistler.

Complex Sentences A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Consider the following examples: Simple = My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go. Compound = My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go. Complex = Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go. The third example is a complex sentence because one part of the sentence could not exist standing alone and the other part could exist standing alone.

Complex Sentences “Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go.” This is a complex sentence because one part of the sentence could not exist standing alone and the other part could exist standing alone. “Although my friend invited me to a party”  This is not a complete sentence because something is missing! “I do not want to go.”  This is a complete sentence (albeit, a simple one)

Subordinating Conjunctions The easiest way to identify a complex sentence is to look for the subordinating conjunctions at the beginning of the sentence. Then, check to see if there is part of the sentence than is independent and part that is dependent. "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether," and "while."

Complex Sentences Which of the following is a complex sentence? Collingwood School is located in West Vancouver, but has students from North Vancouver, Burnaby and Vancouver too. Since Collingwood School is located in West Vancouver, there are school buses that bring in the students from North Vancouver, Burnaby and Vancouver. West Vancouver is home to Collingwood School, but there are students who are from North Vancouver, Burnaby and Vancouver that attend there.

Practice Write a paragraph explaining why your A & E essay should win the contest. Post this paragraph on your weebly blog. Be sure to include all three sentence types in your writing. Once you are done, open you’re A & E essay in word. Make the first word of: - Simple sentences blue - Complex sentences green - Compound sentences yellow