The Simpsons Teach

Sentences
 Adding Variety to Sentence Structure

To make your writing more interesting,

you should try to vary your sentences in
terms of length and structure. You can
make some of your sentences long and
others short. Read the two paragraphs on
the next page.
 Two Paragraphs
Read the paragraphs below. Choose the paragraph
that is more effective.
Paragraph #1
I love living in the city. I have a
wonderful view of the entire city.
I have an apartment. I can see the
Golden Gate Bridge. I can see
many cargo ships pass under the
bridge each day. I like the
restaurants in San Francisco. I
can find wonderful food from just
about every country. I don’t like
the traffic in the city.
Paragraph #2
I love living in the city of San
Francisco. I have a
wonderful view of the entire city
from my apartment
window. In addition, I can see the
Golden Gate Bridge
under which many cargo ships
pass each day. I also like San
Francisco because I can find
wonderful restaurants with food
from just about every country;
however, I don’t like the traffic in
the city.
How do you vary sentence structure?

You will want to use a variety of sentence structures

in your writing. There are three types of sentences
we will study in this lesson:

- Simple Sentence
- Compound Sentence
- Complex Sentence
 The Simple Sentence
A simple sentence has one independent clause (one
subject and a verb):

Think of an Independent Clause as

Marge Simpson!

Marge is an independent woman.

She can survive on her own.
Independent (Marge) Clause

• Just like Marge, an

independent clause can
survive on its own.
• It is a complete sentence
which expresses a
complete thought.
• Subject + Verb
 Examples of
Independent (Marge) Clauses
SUBJECT VERB SUBJECT VERB

Bart does not like to go to school. Lisa loves the saxophone.

SUBJECT + VERB

SUBJECT VERB

Homer does not work hard at the power plant.

 The Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses
that are joined together. For  F
A trick to remembering HOW to join these two clauses
together is to use FANBOYS!
And  A
Nor  N
But  B
Or  O
Yet  Y
So  S
 Compound Sentence
,
(Marge + + FANBOYS + Marge)
For
And
Nor
But
Or

, Yet
So
 Compound Sentence
,
(Marge + + FANBOYS + Marge)

Bart hates school, so he makes fun of the

teachers.

Homer loves donuts, and he enjoys spending

time at Moe’s.
 Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause cannot survive by itself. It does
not express a complete thought. It is NOT a
sentence!
Think of an Dependent Clause as
Homer Simpson!
Homer is messed up when he
is on his own. Without Marge
by his side, things go wrong.
He is DEPENDENT
on Marge and cannot survive
without her.
Examples of Dependent (Homer)
Clauses

Until the next time I

see him NOT COM
PLE
TE
SE N
When I ran to the TE
NC
ES!
yellow house
Although I want to get
an A in math
 The “AAAWWUBBIS” Words

“AAAWWUBBIS”
are also known as Dependent clauses also
subordinating begin with signal
conjunctions. (AAAWWUBBIS) words.

We will call these

“AAAWWUBBIS” words
because they signal the
beginning of a Homer
clause.
 Dependent Clause
“AAAWWUBBIS”
After
Although
As
When
While
Until Although the sun was bright
Because Before class started
Before
If
Since
 Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is a combination of an
independent clause and a dependent clause.

Think of a Complex
Sentence as the
partnership between
Marge and
Homer Simpson!
 Complex Sentences

Homer(D.C.) , + Marge (I.C.) Marge (I.C.) + Homer (D.C.)

, -OR-

Until Homer met Marge , Homer was a nobody until he

he was a nobody. met Marge.
Until Lisa goes to college , Lisa will have to live with
she will have to live with her her parents until she goes to
parents. college.
A Rule To Know!

A dependent clause
(Homer) must have an
independent clause
(Marge) by it to be a
complete sentence.
Let’s Review the Three Types of
Sentences!
• Simple Sentences (Marge)
• Compound Sentences
(Marge, + FANBOYS
+Marge)
• Complex (Homer, +
Marge OR Marge +
Homer)
Simple Sentences (Marge)
Subject + Verb
• Marge walks to the lake.
• Homer sleeps too much.
• Bart is cool.
• Lisa will want to get a dog.
• The last “normal” person
on earth is Ned.
Let’s make
Complex
Sentences.

The
formulas
are...
DEPENDENT

CLAUSE ,
+
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
=
COMPLEX
SENTENCE
Examples of Complex Sentence
AAAWWUBBIS + Homer + Marge. ,
• When the grass turns green, Homer
will have to mow the lawn.
• After Bart passes third grade, there will
be a huge celebration.
OR
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
+
DEPENDENT
CLAUSE
Examples of Complex Sentence

Marge + Homer (NO COMMA)

Homer will have to mow the lawn

when the grass turns green.

There will be a huge celebration when

Bart passes third grade.
 Let’s
practice the
different
kinds of
sentences.
 Write your answers on your worksheet.

Hart Middle School is

ranked #1 in the state of
Michigan.

What kind of sentence is

this:
•Simple, Compound, or
Complex?
How can you tell?
 Mrs. Leider is quite a strange
teacher, but Mrs. Nadlonek,
Mrs. Schmidt and Mrs. Lane
are even stranger.
What kind of sentence is
this:
– Simple, Compound, or
Complex?
How can you tell?
 Although I can’t swim, the
beach is a glorious vacation
spot.

• What kind of sentence is

this:
– Simple, Compound, or
Complex?
• How can you tell?