SENTENCES:

Simple, Compound, & Complex

Simple Sentences: One independent clause.

The dog barked. The kids ran and rode their bikes. Jeff and Josh played soccer.
* Can have a compound subject or compound verb

Simple Sentence layout: One noun + one verb Two nouns + one verb One noun + two verbs

Compound Sentences:

Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.

For And Nor But Or Yet So

The dog barked. The cat meowed. The dog barked, and the cat meowed. The girls ran, yet the boys rode their bikes.

Josh played soccer, but Jeff played lacrosse.

Compound Sentence layout: Noun + verb + ,conj + noun + verb

Complex Sentences: One independent clause AND a dependent clause.

LIST OF COMMON SUBORDINATORS When you see a sentence that begins with one of these subordinators, BE CAREFUL These words appear at the beginning of subordinate clauses, and subordinate clauses cannot stand by themselves - they are not complete sentences. Make sure that all your subordinate clauses are attached to independent clauses.

after although as as if as long as as soon as as though because even if even though

if in case since so that that though till until unless whatever

when whenever where wherever whether which while who/whom whoever/whomever why

Examples of subordinating clauses that cannot stand alone:

After the rain

If it is hot When my truck is clean

Whenever I want

All of these examples show that sub. cl. provides context for a situation. (the circumstances in order for an event to happen)

These are called DEPENDENT CLAUSES because they rely on an independent clause to make them complete.

Combine the dependent clauses to an independent clause to create a complete sentence. After the rain, there is a rainbow.

I will not go outside if it is hot

There is always mud to be found when my truck is clean

I can have ice cream whenever I want.

Simple, Compound, or Complex?

I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.

COMPOUND
I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.
Noun + verb + conj + noun + verb.

Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

SIMPLE
Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.
One noun + two verbs.

Some students like music.

SIMPLE
Some students like music.

One noun + one verb.

When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page.

COMPLEX
When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page.

Alex played football, so Maria went shopping.

COMPOUND
Alex played football, so Maria went shopping.
Noun + verb + conj + noun + verb

Juan and Maria went to the movies after they finished studying.

COMPLEX
Juan and Maria went to the movies after they finished studying.