BUILDING MEANING:
FROM SINGLE WORDS TO COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES
| WORDS | Subject | Predicate |
| CLAUSES | Dependent | Independent |
| SENTENCES | ||||
| TYPES | Simple | Compound | Complex | Compound-Complex |
| KINDS | Declarative | Interrogative | Exclamatory | Imperative |
RULES OF THUMB
1) Is a noun or pronoun (or a noun or pronoun phrase)
2) Is who or what the sentence is about
3) Is necessary in order to have a sentence
1) Is a verb or verb phrase
2) Tells what the subject is doing or the state of the subject’s existence
3) Is necessary in order to have a sentence
END PUNCTUATION
1) Is a period, question mark, or exclamation point
2) Tells the reader the sentence is finished
So: Sentence = Subject + Predicate + End Punctuation
Therefore, it makes sense that Subject + Predicate + End Punctuation = Sentence
BUT, does Subject + Predicate + Other words and phrases + End Punctuation = Sentence ?
The answer is, “It depends.”
Which of the following groups of words are sentences?
A SENTENCE is defined by four things:
1) It has a subject.
2) It has a predicate.
3) It expresses a complete thought.
4) It has end punctuation.
A sentence might have other parts, as well, but if a group of words does not AT LEAST meet all four of these requirements, it is not a sentence.
A sentence that expresses a single thought or idea is a SIMPLE SENTENCE (also known as an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE).
There are four different kinds of sentences, each of which does something different:
Ø Declarative – Makes a statement, provides information – ends with a period (.)
Ø Interrogative – Asks a question – ends with a question mark (?)
Ø Exclamatory – Makes an exclamation – ends with an exclamation point (!)
Ø Imperative – Gives a command – ends with either a period (.) or an exclamation point (!)
You CANNOT have a one-word sentence EXCEPT if you are giving a command to (you [understood]).
Jump! Run! Duck! Stop. Sit.
(The person receiving the command [the subject of the sentence] is understood to be “You”.)
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We can combine two or more independent clauses (or simple sentences) to create a COMPOUND SENTENCE.
Notice that in the first compound sentence, the two thoughts are separated with a comma and the word “and”, while in the second sentence, the two thoughts are separated by a semicolon.
Simple sentences and compound sentences CANNOT start with “Because”.
If a group of words is not a sentence, what is it? A FRAGMENT.
A fragment is a piece of something larger. Any word or groups of words can be a part of a sentence, but not every group of words IS a sentence. There are two types of fragments:
A PHRASE is a group of words that go together but that is missing a subject, or missing a predicate, or missing both. Because it is missing these items, it cannot express a complete thought
A CLAUSE is a group of words that has a subject AND a predicate; however, it does NOT ALWAYS make a sentence.
A DEPENDENT CLAUSE is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate, BUT it does not express a complete thought. It is very, very close to being a sentence, but it doesn’t provide enough information to finish the idea; it does not express a complete thought.
Punctuating dependent clauses:
Because I did my homework, I was able to watch TV.
If a sent starts w/ dep. Cl., follow dep cl w/ a comma.
When I ate bran cereal, I really had to go to the bathroom.
If the dep. Cl. Is at the end of the sent, you MIGHT need a comma in front of it (but you probably won’t).
He ran down the street when he saw the bus leaving.
RULE OF THUMB: Don’t put a comma unless you are sure you need one.
An INDEPENDENT CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject AND a predicate AND they express a complete thought. All simple sentences are independent clauses. We can also use independent clauses to make other types of sentences.
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We can take a simple sentence (independent clause) and tack on a dependent clause to the front or back end of it. This creates a COMPLEX SENTENCE.
Simple sentence: I ate an entire gallon of ice cream.
Dependent clause: Although my parents said not to eat so much
Although my parents said not to eat so much, I ate an entire gallon of ice cream.
Notice that the clause is separated from the simple sentence by a comma.
ONLY complex sentences can start with “Because”.
These are NOT definitions, but they may be easier ways to remember how to create phrases, clauses, compound sentences, and complex sentences.
IF YOU CAN WRITE A SENTENCE, YOU CAN WRITE EVERYTHING ELSE…
Write a simple sentence, then cross out either the complete subject, the complete predicate, or both of them. The left-over words should make a phrase.
Mike went to the store. --- sentence
Went to the store --- phrase – no subject
To the store --- phrase – no subject, and no predicate; this is a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE – “to” is a preposition
The puppy had brightly-colored bows. --- sentence
The puppy --- phrase – no predicate
Had brightly-colored bows – phrase – no subject
Brightly colored bows – phrase – no subject, no predicate
Write a simple sentence.
Write a sentence, then put a “Dependent Clause Maker” word in front of the sentence.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE MAKERS:
My room is colorful. – sentence
Though my room is colorful… --- clause – does not express a complete thought!
My dad had brown hair. --- sentence
If my dad had brown hair… --- clause
Write two separate, complete sentences, then join them together. You can join them in one of two ways: you can add a comma and the word “and” between them, OR you can stick a semicolon between them.
I like to play soccer. I like to play basketball. --- two sentences
I like to play soccer, and I like to play basketball. – ONE compound sentence.
I like to play soccer; I like to play basketball. – one compound sentence
I like to play sport. I am very good.
I like to play sports, so I am very good.
I like to play sports; I am very good.
This is a clause and a sentence together. To make one, write a sentence, then add a “Clause Maker” to the front of it; then write a second, separate sentence. Join the two pieces together with a comma.
I went to Community Day. It was a lot of fun. --- two simple sentences
When I went to Community day --- clause
It was a lot of fun. --- simple sentence
When I went to Community Day, it was a lot of fun. --- complex sentence
I like to play video games. I have a lot of games. --- two simple sentences
Since I like to play video games, I have a lot of games. --- complex sentence
This is basically a complex sentence with an extra simple sentence joined to the end. To make write, write a simple sentence, then add a “Clause Maker” to the front. Then write a second, separate sentence, joining it to the clause with a comma. Then write a third simple sentence, joining it to the complex sentence you’ve created with a comma and a conjunction or with a semi-colon.
Birds are pretty. I bought one. I named it Petey. --- three simple sentences
Because birds are pretty --- clause
Because birds are pretty, I bought one. --- complex sentence
Because birds are pretty, I bought one; I named it Petey. --- compound-complex sentence
NOTICE: The clause is joined to the next sentence by a comma, and the two simple sentences are joined together by a semi-colon.
The other method is to write a compound sentence, then add a clause to the front of it.
I like spaghetti. I don’t like ziti. --- two simple sentence
I like spaghetti, but I don’t like ziti. --- compound sentence
You say all pasta tastes the same. --- simple sentence
Although you say all pasta tastes the same --- clause
Although you say all pasta tastes the same, I like spaghetti, but I don’t like ziti.
NOTICE: The clause is joined to the next sentence by a comma, and the two simple sentences are joined together by a comma and a conjunction (“but”).