Sentence structure

1. From the creators of “Simple & Compound
Sentences” Von Steuben’s English Department
is proud to present
COMPLEX
SENTENCES

2. Simple Sentences Review
A simple sentence is also known as an
independent clause; this means it has a
clear subject (or noun) and predicate (verb).
 BTW: A sentence MUST express a complete
thought, otherwise it is considered a sentence
fragment, a.k.a. an DEPENDENT CLAUSE.
Ex. 1 Zeus was the king of all the gods.
Ex. 2 His behavior was sometimes dishonorable.

3. Compound Sentence Review
 Compound sentences are created using one of
three methods to join two independent clauses
together:
 Method 1: a comma + a conjunction (FANBOYS word)
 Method 2: a semi-colon (;),or
 Method 3: a semi-colon + conjunctive adverb.
For example (using Method 3):
Zeus was the king of all the gods; however, his
behavior was not always honorable.

4. Complex Sentences
A dependent clause is also known as a sentence fragment,
or a phrase that does not express a complete thought.
 Therefore, a complex sentence is created using one of two
methods
Method 1: independent clause + dependent clause.
Ex. Orpheus lost Eurydice because he did not obey the gods’ orders.
(independent clause) + (dependent clause– can’t stand alone)
Method 2: Dependent clause + a comma (,) + independent clause
EXAMPLE
Because he did not obey the gods’ orders, Orpheus lost Eurydice.
(dependent clause, or fragment) (independent clause)

5. Helpful Hints
Hint #1: Complex Sentences often show
cause-and-effect in your writing.
Hint #2: In order to identify a complex
sentence, look for the subordinating
conjunction!!
Hint #3: There is NO COMMA before the
subordinating conjunction.

6. Subordinating Conjunctions
Before When If
After Unless Since
Because While Through
Although Until
Think: BABAWUWUIST
(Hooray! Another acronym!  )
When should you use these terms?

7. Practice:
 Add either a dependent or an independent
clause to these dependent clause make a
complex sentence:
1. The cafeteria food improved when…
2. Because Jimmy & Luis love basketball,…
3. Before …, you should get all the facts.

8. Now You Try!
With a neighbor, write a complex sentence about your childhood hero using
BOTH methods (2 mins)
Method 1:
Independent clause + Dependent clause.
Ex. Orpheus lost Eurydice because he did not obey the gods’ orders.
(independent clause) + (dependent clause– can’t stand alone)
Method 2:
Dependent clause + a comma (,) + Independent clause
EXAMPLE
Because he did not obey the gods’ orders, Orpheus lost Eurydice.
(dependent clause, or fragment) (independent clause)

9. COMPOUND-COMPLEX
SENTENCES
…and now for something a little different, allow me to introduce…

10. Review
 Simple sentences have one main clause
and no subordinate clauses
 Compound sentences have two or more
main clauses, but no subordinate
clauses.
 Subordinate Clauses (a.k.a. “sentence
fragments” are clauses that are missing
either a subject or predicate and therefore
cannot stand alone)
 HINT: Look for BABAWUISTA words as clues

11. Complex & Compound-Complex
Sentences are Slightly Different
 A complex sentence has one main
clause and one or more subordinate
clauses
For Example:
Because we had the day off, |and didn’t have
(subordinating clause)
anything better | to do | in the morning, |
(subordinating clause) (infinitive verb phrase) (prepositional phrase
we slept-in until the midafternoon (independent clause).
Subject Verb (adverb phrase)

12. Compound-Complex Sentences
 A compound-complex sentence TWO or
more main clause and at least one
subordinate clause.
For Example:
Although it was a Tuesday, we slept-in until midafternoon
(subordinating clause) (independent clause)
because parent-teacher conferences were scheduled for the day
(subordinating clause)
and while our parents have to come to school,
(subordinating clause)
we didn’t have to go to our classes that day.
(independent clause)

13. Student Practice
 In the Writer’s Choice textbook, pages
543-544, Practice 6-8*.
 Read the directions and complete the tasks
for Practice 6 & 7
 For Practice 8 although the directions ask for
a variety of sentences types, you’ll only need
to create 1 of each type (four total):
 Simple
 Compound
 Complex
 Compound-Complex
*For your convenience, a PDF version of this activity has been uploaded to BOTH vonsteuben.org & the Student Portal

14. Sentence Review
Complete Sentences:
 You may recall that a sentence is also known
as an independent clause because it
expresses a complete thought.
 In other words, it means it contains both a clear
subject (who or what) and a predicate (an action
or condition)

15. Incomplete Sentences
We learned that fused sentences are also
known as run-on sentences because they
contains two main clauses illegally run
together with no punctuation whatsoever.

16. Sentence Fragments (in a nutshell)
Otherwise known as dependent or
subordinate clauses, sentence fragments are
missing either a subject or predicate (or
sometimes both).
In other words, they do NOT express a
complete thought and therefore CANNOT
stand alone.

17. Some Common Fragment Errors
Problem 1: A fragment missing a subject:
Was tired.
 Who or what was tired?
After running the field all day, the center
was tired.
Problem 2: A fragment missing a predicate
or complete verb
She tried.
 What did she try to do?
She tried to protect the goalie.

18. Problem 3: A fragment that is missing an
independent clause.
Because we were tired.
 What is the complete thought responsible for the
tiredness or the result of the exhaustion?
Because we were tired, we fell asleep on the train
and missed our stop.
Problem 4: The fragment is missing both a subject and
predicate).
After school.
 Who or what is completing what action after school?
The sports awards ceremony was held after school.
SUBJECT– the “who or what” PREDICATE– the action or condition

19. Your Turn!
 Use all available resources (your notes,
your neighbor, etc.) to correct the
following sentence fragments:
1. Was often the reason for the tragedy in
many of Shakespeare’s plays.
What’s this fragment missing? ADD IT!

20. Student Practice
1. Was often the reason for the tragedy in
many of Shakespeare’s plays.
What’s this fragment missing? ADD IT!
2. Shakespeare is credited.
What’s missing in this fragment? ADD IT
3. To the audience.
Missing both a subject and a predicate.
ADD THEM!