Basic Sentence Structure

Dependent Clauses = Dont Do It!

They start to say something...but dont finish the thought.
They are fragments (parts) of a complete sentence.

Fragments are
NOT complete
sentences.

These are dependent clauses (incomplete

sentences):
*After the rain stops.
*With my favorite book next to me.
Turn the dependent clauses into independent clauses.

Independent Clauses
are complete sentences; they stand on their own.
Subject + Verb = Complete Sentence

These are independent clauses (complete

sentences):
*Harry went to Hogwarts.
*The zombies shamble.
*The crowd screams.
Write three of you own independent clauses (complete sentences).

FANBOYS

Combine two independent

clauses.

Compound Sentences
uses a comma & FANBOY or semicolon
to connect two independent clauses.

Independent clause

for
and
nor
but
or
yet
so

Independent clause

*Use a comma BEFORE FANBOYS.

*Harry Potter is a wizard, and he loves living at

Hogwarts.
*I have failed many times, but I have never gone into a
game expecting to fail.

Compound Sentences
two independent clauses using semicolons
the two ideas should be closely linked when doing this
Independent clause

Independent clause

*I love when it rains; thunderstorms make me happy.

*You are not finished when you fail; you are finished
when you quit.
Write two of your own compound sentences using semicolons.

Complex Sentences
contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause

When the
independent
clause is first, a
comma is NOT
used to
separate the
clauses.

Dependent clause

Independent clause

OR
Independent clause

Dependent clause

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use
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two

As Wilbur came out of the crate, the crowd

clapped and cheered.
Joe realized that the train was late while he
Write two ofat
your
owntrain
complexstation.
sentences.
waited
the