1. Understanding Sentences
Sentence Structure
Understanding Sentences

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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!!

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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