1. Initiating Question
Think to yourself… what are the three necessary components of independent clauses?
**If you’re struggling, think about ANYTHING you know about independent clauses.

2. Independent and Dependent Clauses

3. Independent Clauses— SENTENCES!
Contain:
Subject (example: The boy)
Verb (example: hits)
Complete thought (example: The boy hits the ball).
Examples:
Stefan carried the ball to his sister.
Elisabeth cried.
They smiled.

4. Dependent Clauses—NOT COMPLETE SENTENCES!
Are…
Groups of words that contain subjects and verbs but DO NOT express complete thoughts—begin with subordinating conjunctions
Examples:
When I am sixteen
Although it is warm outside
Because Joseph lied

5. Why Are Clauses Important?
They express information in different ways. They can be combined into various types of sentences!

6. Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex
Types of Sentences
Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex

7. Simple Sentences Contain… 1 Independent Clause 0 Dependent Clauses
Examples:
My sister enjoys singing with you.
They behaved like monsters.
I looked for Henry and Agatha at the cafeteria.

8. Compound Sentences Contain… 2 (or more) Independent Clauses
Comma + Coordinating Conjunction (or semicolon)
0 Dependent Clauses
Examples:
I like babysitting, but those kids are terrible!
George likes to sing, and I like to dance.
I was locked out of the house, so I cried.

9. Complex Sentences Contain… 1 Independent Clause
1 (or more) Dependent Clause (before or after IC)
If DC is first, use a comma
If IC is first, don’t use a comma
Examples:
When the bell rang, the students ran to their seats.
The students ran to their seats when the bell rang.

10. Compound-Complex Sentences
Contain…
2 (or more) Independent Clauses
1 (or more) Dependent Clause
Examples:
When the bell rang, the students ran to their seats, and the teacher began the lesson.
Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with me.

11. How Can Knowing the Types of Sentences Help Our Writing?
We can vary our syntax (sentence structure) by using different types of sentences. Varying sentence structures (and lengths) can make our writing more engaging.

13. Colons Use the colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list
We learned many writing fundamentals: grammar, punctuation, style, and voice.
Use the colon to introduce a quotation.
Shakespeare urged others to be original and authentic: “To thine own self be true.”
Use the colon to follow the salutation of a business letter (but use a comma with personal communication)
Dear Mr. Robinson:
Time
4:30
Subtitles
Mario Kart: Super Circuit

15. Source

16. Semicolons
Use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are related to each other…can be used with a conjunctive adverb (i.e. however, therefore, nonetheless, subsequently, thus, etc.)
I am a student at Greer Middle College; my school is the best!
My brother is a student at Greer Middle College; however, I attend Wade Hampton.

17. Semicolons Continued
Use a semicolon as a “super comma” with a list of items separated by commas
Johnny has been to several big cities: Las Vegas, Nevada; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City, New York; and Los Angeles, California.

18. Semicolon Practice
Write a sentence using a semicolon to combine two independent clauses.
Write a sentence using a semicolon to combine two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb.
Write a sentence using a semicolon to separate items (with commas) in a list.

19. ERRORS IN combining independent clauses

20. Run-on Sentences
Run-on sentences occur when writers combine independent clauses WITH NOTHING BETWEEN THEM.
Example:
I love writing papers I would write one every day if I could.
Give me the manual it can tell us what to do.
It is a beautiful day let’s go outside!

21. Run-on Sentence Corrections
4 Ways to Correct Run-on Sentences
Use a period
It’s a beautiful day. Let’s go outside!
Use a semicolon
It’s a beautiful day; let’s go outside!
Use a comma + coordinating conjunction
It’s a beautiful day, so let’s go outside!
Use a subordinating conjunction (to make an independent clause dependent)
Because it’s a beautiful day, let’s go outside!

22. Run-On Correction Practice
Correct the following run-on sentences.
This isn’t a great playground however, the kids still love it.
The baseball team lost Saturday they just couldn’t hit!
I’m not a good babysitter kids really annoy me.
The best part of life is the people in it that’s what my mom always says.
I cooked last night it was a monumental event!

23. Run-On Correction Answers
Correct the following run-on sentences.
This isn’t a great playground; however, the kids still love it.
The baseball team lost Saturday because they just couldn’t hit!
I’m not a good babysitter; kids really annoy me.
The best part of life is the people in it; that’s what my mom always says.
I cooked last night. It was a monumental event!

25. Comma Splices
Comma splices occur when writers combine independent clauses with ONLY A COMMA.
Example:
Pizza is the best, I would eat one every day if I could.
I like to drive, hopefully I will have a motorcycle soon.
Fall is coming soon, the leaves look great when they change colors.

26. Comma Splice Corrections
4 Ways to Correct Comma Splices
Use a period instead of a comma
Pizza is the best. I would eat it every day if I could!
Use a semicolon instead of a comma
Pizza is the best; I would eat it every day if I could!
Add a coordinating conjunction to the comma
Pizza is the best, so I would eat it every day if I could!
Use a subordinating conjunction (to make an independent clause dependent)
Because pizza is the best, I would eat it every day if I could.

27. Commas Splice Correction Practice
Correct the following comma splices in two different ways.
I didn’t like the movie, it was way too long.
She and Jerry are getting married in the fall, they didn’t want a summer wedding.
My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief.
Source

29. Sentence Fragments
A fragment fails to be a sentence because it cannot stand by itself—does not contain an independent clause.
Does not have subject + verb + complete thought
Fragments include:
Dependent clauses by themselves
When the boy got home from school.
Descriptive phrases that don’t have subjects and/or verbs
Working hard to make good grades in the class.
Clauses with only part of a verb phrase
Some of the athletes playing on the court.

30. Correcting Sentence Fragments
To correct sentence fragments, simply insert the missing parts of the sentence (subject, verb, and/or complete thought).
Examples:
When the boy got home from school. When the boy got home from school, we lay down on his bed.
Working hard to make good grades in the class. Working hard to make good grades in the class, Johnny learned that hard work pays off.
Some of the athletes playing on the court. Some of the athletes were playing on the court.

31. Practice: Correcting Fragments
Add to these fragments to make them complete sentences.
Even though the bus was late.
Running and ducking for cover.
Tiffany’s project, which she completed in three hours.

32. Practice: Possible Answers
Add to these fragments to make them complete sentences.
Even though the bus was late, Jeremy still made it to school on time.
The soldiers were running and ducking for cover.
Tiffany’s project, which she completed in three hours, lacked some details.

34. CS, R-O, SF Practice
Identify the following as either COMMA SPLICE, RUN-ON SENTENCE, SENTENCE FRAGMENT, or NO ERROR.
Mrs. Jones is a new teacher in our school she is not a principal.
The student works very hard, however, the tests are difficult.
Although his efforts in the class were not rewarded.
John and Marcy like to eat.
Alex and Joanna went to the concert, it was awesome!
Running behind on their way to school.
Scout likes to beat up boys Jem is quiet and courageous.
Because the book is so good, I couldn’t put it down!

35. CS, R-O, SF Practice Answers
Identify the following as either COMMA SPLICE, RUN-ON SENTENCE, SENTENCE FRAGMENT, or NO ERROR.
Mrs. Jones is a new teacher in our school she is not a principal. Run-On
The student works very hard, however, the tests are difficult. Comma Splice
Although his efforts in the class were not rewarded. Frag.
John and Marcy like to eat. No error
Alex and Joanna went to the concert, it was awesome! Comma Splice
Running behind on their way to school. Fragment
Scout likes to beat up boys Jem is quiet and courageous. Run-on
Because the book is so good, I couldn’t put it down! None