Sentences

Simple, Compound and Complex

 What is a Sentence?
• A sentence is a group of words that makes sense on
its own.
• Sentences can be silly, but still make sense.
e.g. The rainbow dog flew over the sun.
• A sentence needs to have a verb (doing word).
• A sentence needs to have a subject (be about
someone or something).
 There are eight planets in the
solar system.

This is a sentence.
 And hurt his knee.

This is not a sentence.

 The horse galloped around the
race track.

This is a sentence.
 Ready for dinner.

This is not a sentence.

 Sentences
We are now going to learn about:

Simple sentences
Compound sentences
Complex sentences
 Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is also called an independent clause.
It contains a subject and a verb and expresses a
complete thought.

For example:
Scott plays soccer in the morning.

Simple sentence = subject + ONE verb

 Simple Sentences
Birds wash themselves in our bird bath.
 Simple Sentences

Tom can read chapter books.

 Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses,
joined by a coordinating conjunction.

For example:
Scott was playing soccer, so Mary went to the beach.

Compound Sentence = main clause + conjunction

+ main clause
 Coordinating Conjunctions -
FANBOYS
Coordinating conjunctions connect clauses and phrases.
F - for
A - and
N - nor
B - but
O - or
Y - yet
S - so
 Join the Clauses
• Use one of the coordinating conjunctions to join the
following clauses together.
• Write the new sentence in your workbooks.
Jake drove the car Mary read the map.

Jake drove the car and Mary read the map.

Jane is coming over, we can go for a swim.

Jane is coming over, so we can go for a swim.

I would like to go to the football game, I don’t
have a ticket.

I would like to go to the football game, but I don’t have

a ticket.
 Complex Sentences
A complex sentence combines an independent clause with
one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always
has a subordinating conjunction.

For example:
Scott wore his football boots, because he was playing soccer.

Complex sentences = main clause + conjunction +

dependent clause
 Subordinating Conjunctions
• A subordinating conjunction joins an independent clause to
a dependent clause.
• A Subordinating conjunction can be at the beginning,
middle or end of a sentence.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
after how until now that
although if unless wherever
as in as much as if while
in order that when as long as before
at least whenever as much as since
even though soon because though
whereas as though so that that
 Complex Sentences
When he finished reading his book, he returned it to
the library.
 Complex Sentences
I will make the beds while you cook breakfast.
 Complex Sentences
The children saw many interesting science
experiments when they went on their excursion.