1. Ever feel like you’re not getting anywhere with your writing???

2. As much as any sane person needs to know…
The Sentence
As much as any sane person needs to know…

3. Terms you’ll need Subject Verb
Clause (group of words with a subject and a verb)
Independent clause - strong, stands alone
Dependent clause (subordinate) - weak, needs support

4. Simple sentence
A simple sentence has one independent clause (subject and verb) and zero dependent clauses:
The student yawned. S V

5. The basic sentence is ‘The student yawned’.
Although a simple sentence cannot have a dependent clause, it can have modifiers:
The tall student, sitting in the back in my algebra class, yawned loudly.
The basic sentence is ‘The student yawned’.
The other words are modifiers - they describe or give more info. about the subject or verb.
Adj S
Participial Phrase V
Adv

6. TWO SUBJECTS: The student and his friend yawned.
A SIMPLE sentence contains only one independent clause, but it can have more than one subject or verb:
TWO SUBJECTS: The student and his friend yawned.
TWO VERBS : The student yawned and fell asleep.

7. The student and his friend yawned and fell asleep.
A sentence with all these elements will be long, but it is still simple because it contains only one independent clause:
The tall student, sitting in the back in my physics class, and his friend yawned loudly and fell asleep.
The student and his friend yawned and fell asleep.
Underline the simple sentence.

8. Underline the simple sentence in each item.
I played softly and quietly for my baby sister.
After school, Max and Peter climbed into their tree fort and played explorers.
The man, sitting on the bench, used his phone.
Kris talking loudly on her phone interrupted Sandra’s nap.

9. Compound sentence S V S V
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses that are usually joined by a coordinating conjunction:
Henry got a new job, so he has to move.
I have a lot of homework, but I don’t have time to study tonight. S V S V

10. Notice the difference between a simple sentence with a compound verb and a compound sentence with two clauses:
SIMPLE My houseguests returned from a long day of shopping and went straight to bed.
COMPOUND My houseguests returned home from a long day of shopping, and we decided to go straight to bed.
What differences do you notice?

11. Compound sentence with coordinating conjunctions
Most compound sentences are formed with a coordinating conjunction.
FAN BOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Ex1: The experiment was deemed successful, yet our results were unsatisfactory.
Ex2: The students were unhappy with their professor, for he often wasted their time in class.

12. Compound sentence without coordinating conjunctions
Yet, while most compound sentences are formed with a coordinating conjunctions, often good writers decide to eliminate the conjunction and simply add a semicolon:
The ambitious student initiated the research; the teacher was pleased by her efforts.
The students were unhappy with their professor; he often wasted their time in class.

13. Conjunctive Adverb
Conjunctions have one job, to connect. They join words, phrases, or clauses together to clarify what the writer is saying. Their presence provides smooth transitions from one idea to another.
A conjunctive adverb can join two independent clauses. In this situation, the conjunctive adverb behaves like a coordinating conjunction, connecting two complete ideas.
You need a semicolon, not a comma, to connect the two clauses:

14. Common Conjunctive Adverbs
accordingly
in addition
otherwise
additionally
in comparison
similarly
as a result
in contrast
then
besides
in fact
therefore
certainly
likewise
Thus
finally
meanwhile
unfortunately
hence
nevertheless
however
next

15. Conjunctive Adverb Examples
The experiment was deemed successful; unfortunately, our results were unsatisfactory.
The students were happy with their professor; therefore, they gave him a high rating on Rate My Teacher.
I was hoping to go hiking today; however, it’s raining too hard to attempt the climb.

16. Example Subordinating Conjuctions:
Complex sentence
How to create a complex sentence.
Take two (independent clauses) complete sentences and turn one of them into a dependent clause by adding an SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION.
Example 1:
We got to the concert late. We had to make our way to our seats in the dark.
Since we got to the concert late, we had to make our way to our seats in the dark.
Example Subordinating Conjuctions:
AAWWUBBIS
After As
When
Where
Until
Before
Because If
Since
When you start a sentence with a dependent clause, put a comma after it.
Dependent Clause

17. Complex sentence
Remember: Take two (independent clauses) complete sentences and turn one of them into a dependent clause by adding an introductory word.
Example 2:
I hate to watch old movies. They’re boring.
I hate to watch old movies because they’re boring.
Dependent Clause
When you end a sentence with a dependent clause, you do NOT need a comma.

18. Using Subordinating Conjunctions
Example: George Stephenson was a coal mine engineer. He built his first locomotive in Combined: George Stephenson was a coal mine engineer before he built his first locomotive in 1814.
To show the relationship between George Stephenson and when he built his first locomotive, combine the sentences using a subordinating conjunction.

19. Using Subordinating Conjunctions
Example: The railroads decided on a standard gauge. Tracks were different widths all over the country
Combined: Because tracks were different widths all over the country, the railroads decided on a standard gauge.
Put the subordinate conjunction at the beginning of the sentence this time.
Notice the comma between the two sentences

20. Remember! (no comma) Dependent clause, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (comma)
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE dependent clause
(no comma)
Dependent clause, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (comma)

21. Try creating complex sentences of your own!
It was getting dark outside. She turned on her flashlight.
His majesty enjoys golf. He’s not very good at it.
The baby was born. His parents named him Travis.

22. What’s wrong with these complex sentences?
Before I went to bed I brushed my teeth.
When Baley scored the goal he celebrated with his teammates.
She dyed her hair, because she did not like gray hairs she discovered.
I cannot hear you, unless you shout.
After I got to school, I put on my shoes.

23. Comparing compound and complex sentences
Compound sentences differ from Complex sentences in one important way:
In a compound sentence, both clauses have equal importance.
In a COMPLEX sentence, the independent clause is more important.

24. Compare these sentences
COMPOUND John was tired, but he finished his homework.
COMPLEX Although John was tired, he finished his homework.
In the first sentence, the writer is communicating that both clauses are equally important.
In the second sentence, the writer is saying that the dependent clause ("John was tired") is less important than the independent clause ("he finished his homework").

25. Long, rambling sentences
Writing that has too many strings of independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions can be tiresome and frustrating for the reader.
These long rambling sentences leave the reader out of breath and wondering which information is important.
Long rambling sentences are also perceived as informal because they duplicate spoken language

26. Look at this paragraph with many independent clauses joined with coordinating conjunctions:
I came home, and I began cooking dinner because my roommate wasn’t there, but she came in and saw me trying to cook her favorite recipe, but I didn't really know how to make it well, and she got really angry, so I stopped cooking, and she made dinner for us, and then everything was all right.

27. The independent clauses are underlined, and the coordinating conjunctions are in bold:
I came home, and I began cooking dinner because my roommate wasn't there, but my roommate came in and saw me trying to cook her favorite recipe, but I didn't really know how to make it well, and she got really angry, so I stopped cooking, and she made dinner for us, and then everything was all right.

28. This is better! Notice how it makes use of a variety of sentence structures.
Because my roommate wasn’t there when I got home, I started to cook dinner. When she came in, she saw me trying to cook her favorite recipe, even though I didn't know how to make it well. Immediately, I stopped cooking because she got really angry. Eventually, she made dinner for us, and everything was all right.

29. Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases!
“I thought of this poem while I was watching my dog play.”
Not a TERRIBLE sentence, really, but not a very interesting one, either.

30. Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases!
“I thought of this poem while I was watching my dog play.”
By creating an introductory participial phrase, we improve things dramatically:
“Watching my dog play, I thought of a great idea for a poem.”

31. Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases!
“The boy playing with his lacrosse stick knocked over his mother’s lamp.”
By creating an introductory participial phrase, we improve things dramatically:
“Playing with his lacrosse stick, the boy knocked over his mother’s lamp.”

32. Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases!
“The girl was skateboarding down the street. She ran into a tree by accident.”
What would you do to improve this?

33. Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases!
“My friend, Sabrina, wrote this poem for me. She told me that her cat inspired her to write it.”
What would you do to improve this?