1. Sentence Variety
Integrating Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences in Your Writing

2. Invitation to Notice from The Fault in Our Stars
It was late winter of my seventeenth year. My mother decided I was depressed. I rarely left the house. I spent quite a lot of time in bed. I read the same book over and over. I ate infrequently. I devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death.
Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death.

3. What is the critical difference between an engine and a boxcar?
Take turns sharing,
how is the engine of the train similar to a boxcar?

4. Independent Clause The train chugged up the hill.
The engine is an independent clause. It can go by itself.
An independent clause is a complete sentence (a subject, a verb, and a complete idea).
The train chugged up the hill.

5. Dependent Clause As the train chugged up the hill, As
If the engine is a independent clause, the boxcar is like a dependent clause. It cannot go by itself.
The dependent clause also has a subject and a verb, but it does not have a complete idea. As
As the train chugged up the hill,

6. Since the train was so loud.
We’re going to practice:
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
The train was so loud.
Since the train was so loud.

7. A cow was on the track. Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
A cow was on the track.

8. As the train chugged up the hill.
Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
As the train chugged up the hill.

9. The train chugged up the hill.
Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
The train chugged up the hill.

10. The engineer put on the brake.
Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
The engineer put on the brake.

11. Because the cow was on the track.
Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
Because the cow was on the track.

12. When the engineer put on the brake.
Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
When the engineer put on the brake.

13. The train is late. Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
The train is late.

14. If the train is late. Let’s practice! Stand up and raise one foot.
When I say an independent clause, stomp your foot.
When I say a dependent clause, keep your foot up.
If the train is late.

15. Simple Sentences
Simple sentence: a complete, independent sentence with a subject and a verb expressing a complete idea.
The train arrived on time.
The engine is like a sentence (independent clause).
It can go by itself.

16. Compound Sentences
Compound sentence: two independent clauses joined by a coordinator (FANBOYS).
We were exhausted We arrived on time.
We were exhausted, but we arrived on time.
For
And
Nor
But Or
Yet So
but

17. Complex Sentences
After
Although As
When
While
Until
Because
Before If
Since So
Complex sentence: an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses joined by a subordinator (AAAWWUBBISS).
The train was very old. We expected.
The train was very old, as we expected. as

18. Compound Complex Sentences
Compound complex sentence: at least one dependent clause and more than one independent clause joined by (AAAWWUBBISS) or (FANBOYS).
As we expected, we arrived on time, but we were exhausted. As
but

19. Let’s practice spicing
up your writing …
Good writing should have a variety of sentences. Highlight to analyze yours:
Simple >
Compound >
Complex >
Compound Complex ->