1. Sentences

2. A Life Sentence in English
The English language is made up of different types of sentences. Today we will be looking at these three:
A simple sentence
A compound sentence
A complex sentence

3. Ingredients for a Simple Sentence
Subject: ONE OR MORE NOUNS (person, place, thing or idea) Action: ONE VERB (the action of the subject) Complete idea (makes sense on its own)

4. To find the subject ask yourself who or
what is doing the action. The rest of the
sentence is called the predicate.
Identify the subject in these sentences:
1. Alison swam in the pool.
2. A kangaroo hopped into view.
3. The tree’s branches were laden down with fruit.
4. Andrew and Peter played by the creek.
5. High in the tree, a koala and her baby slept peacefully.

5. 2. A kangaroo hopped into view.
A SIMPLE SENTENCE
1. Alison swam in the pool.
2. A kangaroo hopped into view.
3. The tree’s branches were laden down with fruit.
4. Andrew and Peter played by the creek.
5. High in the tree, a koala and her baby slept peacefully.

6. Compound Sentences
If there are two or more nouns doing the action it is called a compound subject.
For example:
The emu, Goanna and Wombat were running across to the water hole.
Martha and Emma sailed across the bay in a
dinghy.
The subject in a simple sentence may be singular, or there may also be more than one. In this case it is called a compound subject.
Ask the children to identify the verb (were running), the subject (the emu, goanna and wombat) and predicate (were running across to the water hole.) There are three subjects but they are all performing the same action. The make a compound subject.
Although there are several subjects there is still only one idea. What is it? The animals are running to the water hole!

7. A compound sentence is the joining of two
Compound Sentences
Once you have simple sentences sorted, then compound sentences are a cinch!
A compound sentence is the joining of two
simple sentences (independent clauses) using a coordinating conjunction.
Compound sentences are made by joining together 2 simple sentences using a coordinating conjunction.

8. FANBOYS – the coordinating conjunctions
For - the reason
And - in addition
Nor - not this either
But - in contrast
Or an alternative
Yet- something unexpected
So in conclusion

9. Simple Sentences to Compound Sentences
1. The Australians enjoy AFL. There are some great players.
The Australians enjoy the AFL, for there are some great players.
2. Ice Age was a great film. The Hobbit was better.
Ice Age was a great film, but The Hobbit was better.
3. Watson was a deep thinker. Sherlock Holmes was his mentor.
Watson was a deep thinker, and Sherlock Holmes was is mentor.

10. NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!

11. Coordinating Clauses
Use a different FANBOYS coordinating conjunction to join a simple sentence on the left with a simple sentence on the right to create 6 new compound sentences.
SIMPLE SENTENCE
I am counting my calories.
I really want dessert.
Jim ran out of money in Vegas.
He had to stop gambling.
I should have gotten to go to the dance.
My attendance wasn’t good enough.
Sally didn’t want to go to the dentists.
Sally went to the denist anyway.
I think I will buy the red car.
I think I might lease the blue car.
Jill and Steve got to the concert early.
Jill and Steve got front row seats at the concert.

12. Complex Sentences
As their name suggests, complex sentences are more complicated than compound and simple sentences.
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
(Remember that an independent clause is also a simple sentence, so we’re halfway there already!)
Ask the children to remind you what an independent clause is: a group of words that contains a subject and a verb,
expresses a complete thought, and can stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a simple sentence.
In the example 2 simple sentences – Alexander the Great led his armies to victory over Syria and Egypt. He created an empire that stretched across three continents. Both of these sentences are independent clauses, but because they have been joined using the subordinating conjunction before the second sentence is now dependent on the first. It cannot stand alone – before creating an empire that stretched across three continents. does not make sense if stated alone. It is a dependent clause, its meaning is reliant on the dependent clause, the subordinating conjunction places the chronological order of events.
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought, and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

13. A Dependent Clause?
A dependent clause is a group of words with a verb, but it relies on an independent clause to give it meaning.
The independent and dependent clause are often joined by a subordinating conjunction.
A subordinating conjunction shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause.

14. FOR EXAMPLE…
He refused to give up his dream of becoming an author because he loved writing.
The independent clause – He refused to give up his dream needs no explanation. It makes sense on its own.

15. FOR EXAMPLE…
He refused to give up his dream of becoming an author because he loved writing.
However, the dependent clause; because he loved writing. needs a reason. It does not make sense on its own.

16. FOR EXAMPLE…
He refused to give up his dream of becoming an author because he loved writing.
The subordinating conjunction because gives the reason why he didn’t want to give up his dream.

17. More Examples
James went to the movies then he went to a swimming lesson.
James went to the movies makes sense on its own. It is independent.
then he went to a swimming lesson. Needs more information so that it makes sense. It is dependent on more information. We need to know what happened before.
The subordinating conjunction ‘then’ shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause.

18. James went to the movies because Alison went to a swimming lesson.
EXAMPLES CONTINUED …
James went to the movies because Alison went to a swimming lesson.
James went to the movies makes sense on its own. It is independent.
because Alison went to a swimming lesson. Needs more information so that it makes sense. It is dependent on more information. This action happened as a result of a previous action.
The subordinating conjunction ‘because’ shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause.

19. Common Subordinating Conjunctions
after although as as if as long as as though because before even if even though
if if only in order that now that once rather than since so that than that
though till unless until when whenever where whereas wherever while

20. Complex Sentence Examples
After reading the novel, Michael wanted to see
The Hobbit.
When she returned from the shops, Hannah decided to clean her room.
Although it had stopped raining, the pool
overflowed.

21. NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!

22. Interesting Sentences
Work with a partner for this activity.
On a sheet of paper each write 5 simple
sentences.
Cut each of your sentences out so that you have
10 separate sentences.
Use a different subordinating conjunction to
join your sentences to make 5 complex sentences.

23. Homework Challenge
On Saturday I went to the beach. It was great fun. My dad and I build a fantastic sandcastle. I played in the ocean. I jumped over the waves. My brother and I body surfed. We had fish and chips for lunch. It was delicious. We ate them sitting on the beach. A seagull tried to steal my chips. Dad had to chase it away. He looked very funny madly flapping his arms around. Mum had packed the cricket set. We played cricket. Lots of other people on the beach joined in.
There are 15 sentences in this boring account of a trip to the beach. Rewrite this account using simple, compound and complex sentences. You must retain all the information, but write only 7 sentences.