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CLAUSES AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE NOTES

Day 1 Simple Sentences A simple sentence has ONE complete subject and ONE complete predicate (think of a verb.) Examples:

I ran. The Seahawks won the Superbowl.

Simple sentences may have a compound subject. The hamburgers and hotdogs were burnt.

Simple sentences may have a compound verb. Susan walked and listened last night. The lion stood and roared this morning.

Compound Sentence A compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences. Each simple sentence is called a MAIN CLAUSE (independent clause)

A main clause (independent clause) has a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence. Bonus: A CLAUSE is a group of words that contains a verb and its subject. It is used as part of sentence. Example of a compound sentence: Antonio Brown threw the ball to Big Ben, and he threw it to Heath Miller.

Main clauses of a compound sentence are usually joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating Conjunctions: for and nor but or yet so

Underline the coordinating conjunction: No one was injured in the fire, but several homes burned down. Independent clauses of a compound sentence may be joined by a semicolon.

Example: Most people travel to their jobs; others work at home. The easiest way to tell the difference between a compound sentence and a simple sentence is to look for the coordinating conjunction and comma.

Day 2 Subordinate Clause Also known as the dependent clause. A group of words that has a subject and a predicate, but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate clause is always combined with a main clause in a sentence. Also look for the comma to find the clause.

Complex Sentence Has one MAIN CLAUSE and at least one SUBORDINATE CLAUSE. In order to identify a complex sentence, you have to find the subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses can function in three ways: adjectives adverbs nouns THEY MODIFY EACH OF THESE

Key Words: These words begin subordinate clauses! (Write them in the box) whose that who which whom after as because if since when

Examples of Complex Sentences (Underline the subordinate clause) Bill Clinton, who served as President, drove the car. When I hear rock music, I like to dance.

The subordinate clause in a complex sentence will be separated by commas if it is in the middle of the sentence, between the independent clause.