The document discusses the three main building blocks of sentences: independent clauses, dependent clauses, and phrases. It provides examples of each and explains that independent clauses can stand alone as simple sentences, while dependent clauses cannot. It also introduces the four types of sentences that can be formed using these building blocks: simple sentences with one independent clause, compound sentences with two or more independent clauses joined with coordinating conjunctions, complex sentences with one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses, and sentences that include phrases.

1. Sentence Building Blocks
Inst. Assist. Sarab AL-Akraa

2. Sentence Building Blocks:
(Really! Just 3!)
independent clause
dependent clause
phrase
if you want to
succeed.
Writing correct sentences
is a necessary skill
in school
and in life.

3. Sentence Building Blocks:
#1 – Independent Clause
independent clause
is a sentence by itself (simple sentence)
indep clause , fanboys indep clause =
compound sentence
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill.
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill it is a skill that requires practice.
,and

4. Sentence Building Blocks:
#2 – Dependent Clause
independent clause +
complex sentence
dependent clause only =
fragment
dependent clause =
if one wants to succeed..
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill
if you want to succeed..
X

5. if one wants to succeed.
Sentence Building Blocks
#3 - Phrases
 Phrase
 does not have S+V
 can attach to any type of sentence
 adds information to the sentence about time, place…
 Prepositional phrase: in my family, on Saturdays,
from 9 to 5, during the storm, around my
neighborhood, with my class, etc.
 Verbal phrase: after finishing class, to graduate in
two years
in school and in life.
in school and
in life.
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill

6. 4 Kinds of Sentences
Independent clauses and dependent clauses combine
to form simple, compound and complex sentences.
(Phrases can be in any kind of sentence.)
 1) Simple = 1 independent clause
 Working full time makes it hard to study full time.
S V
 Winona sings and plays the guitar very well.
S V V
 2)Compound = 2 independent clauses connected by
,fanboys or ;conj adverb, or ;
 Winona plays guitar well , but she cannot read music.
S V ; however, S V
;

7. 4 Kinds of Sentences
2) compound sentences
indep clause , for indep clause.
, and
, nor
, but (; however,)
, or
, yet
, so (; therefore, )
Miami and Orlando are both major cities, but Miami is more exciting.
; however,

8. 4 Kinds of Sentences
 3) Complex = dep clause + indep clause
 Dep clause , indep. clause.
If I had enough money, I would buy an old farmhouse in Spain.
 Indep. clause dep. clause.
I would buy an old farmhouse in Spain if I had enough money.
Dep clauses always start with a subordinator:
 Time: After … , Before … , Since… , Until… , When… , While… ,
 Contrast: Although … , Even though … , Whereas … , While… ,
 Cause & Effect: Because … , Since … , As … ,
 Condition: If … , Unless … ,