2. Learning Objectives
This lesson further develops the basic elements
of SVO by creating a variety of sentence
structures.
Enhance the overall readability of your story.
3. Introduction
If you recall, simple sentences are:
S (Subject) + V (Verb) + O (Object)
Without any conjunctions or connectors.
They are fine as they are grammatically correct
until you string them to form a short paragraph
in your story...
4. Changing Simple into Compound
The following are simple sentences:
1) The boy checked his watch.
2) He looked around for suspicious characters.
3) He began walking towards the corner.
Combining them to form a short paragraph:
“The boy checked his watch. He looked around
for suspicious characters. He began walking
towards the corner.”
Q: What's the effect of such writing in your
story?
5. Slurred Speech
The boy's actions are conveyed, but in gaps and
stops!
Therefore, you need to string sentences
together for a greater flow of thoughts in your
story.
That's where conjunctions come in.
Called FANBOYS, they are:
for , and , nor , but , or , yet , so
These help you to form compound sentences –
two sentences of equal importance together.
6. Using Conjunctions
From the earlier example, “The boy checked his
watch. He looked down the street. He began
walking towards the corner.”
can be changed to: “Checking his watch, the boy
looked around for suspicious characters and
walked towards the corner.”
The information is the same, but this time
without the stops and gaps.
It is presented in one continuous flow of
events!
7. A Compound Sentence
A compound sentence as you have seen, are
joined by any of the FANBOYS connectors.
You can also write: “Checking his watch, the
boy walked towards the corner but he was still
on the lookout for suspicious characters.”
So, it depends on how you want to present your
ideas – whether as an addition ('and') or as a
contrast ('but').
8. Strengthening it further
If you can include meaningful adjectives,
adverbs and phrases to your sentences, with
the help of conjunctions, your sentences will
gain increased variety and depth, becoming
more effective.
“Checking his watch a second time (phrase) the
boy walked silently (adverb) towards the dark
(adjective) corner but he was still on the
lookout for suspicious characters.”
9. Learning Activity
With the sentences below, combine them using
descriptions (with adj and adv), phrases and
conjunctions to make it better. Take note not to
add unnecessary details that do not increase
tension in the story.
1) He returned home late.
2) He kept his movements to the minimum.
3) He was noticed by the neighbour.
Hint: You may add details to enhance the story.
10. Learning Activity Suggested Answer
Returning home late one evening, Alex crept
up to the front door but he was still noticed by
the neighbour.
We have used:
1) one evening (adverbial phrase)
2) crept up (phrasal verb)
3) but (FANBOY connector)
4) still (adverb)
11. Discussion
What do we use to change our simple sentences
to compound sentences?
What's the effect of such a change?
What can we do to enhance this effect?
12. In Summary
We use conjunctions in the form of FANBOYS
to help us combine simple sentences.
It will increase the variety of sentences we have
in our writing for a better read.
In addition, we can also use descriptions – with
adjectives and adverbs – and phrases as tools to
enhance our sentences' effectiveness.
