LENG1158: Sentences – Part One

Subjects, Verbs, and Clauses +

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences with because

Section One: Review of Sentence Structure Terminology

Complete the sentences by matching the items on the left with the correct definition on the right.

A subject ...contains one independent clause and ends with a period.

An independent clause ...is who or what a sentence is about. It is always a noun or a pronoun.

A verb ...is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb.

A clause ...has a subject and a verb, but it doesn’t express a complete idea or thought.

A dependent clause ...is what the subject of a sentence is or is doing.

A simple sentence ...is a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence.

A period ...has a subject and a verb, and it communicates a complete idea or thought.

Section Two: Review of Subjects and Verbs

In the following simple sentences, underline the subject with one line and the verb with two lines.

1. We study at Los Andes.

2. Chemistry is my worst class. Simple Sentence
= an independent clause + a period
3. Sitting in Chemistry class gives me a headache.
4. My friends and I prefer playing football. Independent Clause Period
5. We are playing a match at 7:00 tonight.
We love our English teacher .
6. Call me after the game.

Sometimes it is more challenging to identify subjects and verbs. Here are some tips to help you:

 In an imperative sentence (or command), the subject is always an invisible you.

 Usually the subject comes first and the verb comes second in a sentence. However, sometimes the subject is after
the verb:

 In sentences that begin with Here + a form of to be or with There + a form of to be. For example:
Here are your car keys.
There is a park near my house.

 In some questions*. For example:

Are we there yet?
Is she the one?

*In questions that begin with who, whose, what, where, or which, the subject and verb are in the normal
position. Example: Who ate my burrito?
 A verb in the infinitive form (to + verb) cannot be the verb in a sentence.
 Auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs) are often added to main verbs. Some common auxiliary verbs are: be,
can, could, do, did, may, might, have, must, should, will, would. The complete verb in a sentence includes the main
verb AND auxiliary verbs.
 A verb ending in –ing must have an auxiliary verb before it.
 Words such as not, only, always, often, sometimes, never, ever, and just are NOT part of the verb.

Again, underline the subject with one line and the complete verb with two lines.

1. My English teacher has talked nonstop for two hours.

2. Can they return the books to the library tomorrow?
3. I will be the first in my family to graduate from university.
4. Doing a specialization in a foreign country is one of my future goals.
5. Here are the results of the final exam.

Section Three: Review of Compound Sentences

You might already know how to connect two simple sentences using a comma (,) and a coordinating conjunction (and,
but, so, and or). This new sentence is called a compound sentence.

Compound Sentence
= an independent clause + a comma + a coordinating conjunction + an independent clause + a period

Independent Coordinating Independent

Comma Period
Clause Conjunction Clause
Taxis are expensive , so I prefer to take a bus .
This semester has been difficult , but I’m enjoying it .
*I’m taking extra English classes , and I’m also on the football team .
We can go out for Lebanese food , or I can cook something at home .

*Many writers choose not to use a comma before the coordinating conjunction and.

There are three more coordinating conjunctions: for, yet, and nor. These are usually only used in formal writing.

Make compound sentences by connecting the following pairs of simple sentences. Use a comma and add an appropriate
coordinating conjunction. Next, underline the subjects with one line and the complete verbs with two.

1. I’m a vegetarian so, I don’t want to go to your favourite steak restaurant.

2. My brother’s name is Juan Carlos, and my sister’s name is Jennifer.

3. It was raining heavily this morning, so we were wet from head to toe.

4. Maybe she is studying engineering, or perhaps she is studying nursing.

5. I like my English teacher, nor he is very, very strict and demanding.

Make compound sentences using a comma, a coordinating conjunction, and an independent clause.

1. I saw my best friend’s boyfriend at the movies with another woman = I saw my best friend’s boyfriend at the movies,

he was with another women.

2. Eduardo failed the first English test = Eduardo failed the first English test, so he should study more for the next

exam.

3. Her office was a very stressful place to work = Her office was a very stressful place to work, but she likes her job a

lot.

4. My mother lost her wallet last weekend = My mother lost her wallet last weekend, so I bought a new one to her.

5. It is my birthday in a few days = It is my birthday in a few days, but I prefer to study for my final test that it is

tomorrow.

Section Four: Complex Sentences using because

You already know that an independent clause has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete idea or thought. A
dependent clause has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought or idea. It is not a complete
sentence.
 My brother is always tired. (independent clause = a complete sentence)
X Because he works part-time and studies at Los Andes. (dependent clause = not a complete sentence)

A dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause. You can use a subordinating conjunction to do this.
The word because is an example of a subordinating conjunction, but there are many others. This type of sentence is
called a complex sentence. Look at the complex sentences below. What do you notice about punctuation and
capitalization in the following sentences?

My brother is always tired because he works part-time and studies at Los Andes.
Because he works part-time and studies at Los Andes, my brother is always tired.

Complex Sentence (Option 1)

= an independent clause + a subordinating conjunction + a dependent clause + a period

Independent Subordinating Conjunction

Clause with a Dependent Clause Period
because it’s cheaper than taking a
I take a bus home after class .
taxi
Julio and Adriana failed the exam last
because they didn’t study very much .
Saturday
 Complex Sentence (Option 2)
= a subordinating conjunction + a dependent clause + a comma + an independent clause + a period

Subordinating Conjunction Independent

Comm
with a Dependent Clause Clause Period
a
Because it’s cheaper than taking a
, I take a bus home after class .
taxi
Julio and Adriana failed the exam last
*Because they didn’t study very much , .
Saturday

*In the last example, you can switch they with Julio and Adriana to make the subject of the sentence clearer:
Because they Julio and Adriana didn’t study much, Julio and Adriana they failed the exam last Saturday.
Complete the complex sentences with your own ideas.

1. I chose to study aviation because since I was a little kid, I liked a lot planes and build them in Lego pieces.

2. I love running because it makes me feel free and also its good for my health.

3. Getting enough sleep is important because your brain need certain amount of sleep to work adequately in the day

and also is good for your mental health.

4. Many people go to nightclubs because they like to hang out with them friends and just having a good time.

5. I prefer to stay at home because is more comfortable for me and also, I love to play videogames or just watch

movies.

Now rewrite the complex sentences that you just wrote using the second style. Don‘t forget that you need to use a
comma if the subordinating conjunction because is used at the start of the sentence.