Sentences Classified by Structure Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
Simple One Independent Clause (IC) Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a sentence. We had fun at the ball game.
Compound Sentence Two or more IC joined with a coordinating conjunction and a FANBOYS or with a ; We had fun at the ball game, and we cheered for our team.
FANBOYS Coordinating Conjunctions F or A nd Nor But OrOr Yet SoSo
AAAWWUBBIS!!!
A fter A lthough AsAs W hen W hile U ntil B efore B ecause IfIf S ince Dependent clause (DC) begins with one of these words and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. _______ we did our homework,
Punctuation for an AAAWWUBBIS Sentence If the AAAWWUBBIS word is at the beginning of the sentence, it needs a comma after it. No comma is needed when the AAAWWUBBIS sentence is placed after the IC.
Complex Sentences One IC and one or more DC or subordinate clauses. Dependent clause/subordinate clause: Cannot stand alone as a sentence. When we went to the ball game, we sat in the front row to cheer.
Compound/Complex Sentences Two or more IC and one or more dependent/subordinate clauses. When we went to the ball game, we sat in the front row to cheer, but I soon lost my voice.