1. Lesson 29a Commas in Complex Sentences Today we will learn to make a complex sentence. * independent clause = one complete idea, including a subject and a verb. *Dependent clause = an incomplete idea which cannot stand alone. It is a few extra words added to a sentence to give a little more information.

2. Examples: Independent clause: rice. Independent clause: Sheila likes rice. Dependent clause: but only with butter Independent clause: tacos. Independent clause: Billy eats tacos. Dependent clause: and sometimes rice subject verb subject verb

3. Use a comma to add them togetherExample: Sheila likes rice, but only with butter. Billy eats tacos, and sometimes rice.

4. The dependent clause is often at the FRONT of the independent clause Independent clause: Independent clause: Sheila insisted on having her own way. Dependent clause: Despite all the advice I gave her.

5. Join them together: Despite all the advice I gave her, Sheila insisted on having her own way. This comma is VERY important---it MUST be here to separate the 2 clauses.

6. Put the dependent clause first, THEN THE COMMA, then the independent clause. Independent clause: Billy kept forgetting his locker combination. Dependent clause: No matter how many times I told him No matter how many times I told him, Billy kept forgetting his locker combination.

7. Join these together: Independent clause: The clownfish had built an obstacle course. Dependent clause: far beneath the ocean’s surface. Remember to put the dependent clause FIRST, then put the comma, then add the independent clause at the end……

8. What do we get? Far beneath the ocean’s surface, the clownfish had built an obstacle course.

9. Join these together: Independent clause: A bunch of squirrels had buried some pinecones. Dependent clause: underneath the palm tree.

10. The result? Underneath the palm tree, a bunch of squirrels had buried some pinecones.

11. DEFINITION: What you have just practiced writing is called a… COMPLEX SENTENCE = A SENTENCE CONTAINING 1 INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + 1 DEPENDENT CLAUSE, joined BY A COMMA.

12. Classwork: Now write 5 complex sentences of your own (about anything, doesn’t matter) USING THE FORMULA: Depend. clause, independ. clause. 1. 1. No matter how many times I try,….… 2. 2. Despite all the hard work we did,……..

13. Classwork: Write 5 complex sentences USING THE FORMULA: Dependent clause, independent clause 1. 1. Instead of following the directions, 2. 2. Before making up my mind which choice to make, PUT COMMA HERE

14. 1. 1. Instead of following the directions like I was supposed to, I tried to do the project my own way and made many mistakes along the way.

15. 1. 1. Before making up my mind which choice I ought to make, I asked my dad to help me weigh the pros and cons of my decision.

16. TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK= Write 10 complex sentences about anything. Make sure to use the proper formula 1 dependent clause + 1 independent clause Insert comma in between them