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SIMPLE SENTENCE A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete

thought. In the following simple sentences, subjects are in yellow, and verbs are in green.

A. Some students like to study in the mornings. B. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon. C. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

The three examples above are all simple sentences. Note that sentence B contains a compound subject, and sentence C contains a compound verb. Simple sentences, therefore, contain a subject and verb and express a complete thought, but they can also contain a compound subjects or verbs. COMPOUND SENTENCE A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spells FANBOYS.) Except for very short sentences, coordinators are always preceded by a comma. In the following compound sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the coordinators and the commas that precede them are in red.

A. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English. B. Alejandro played football, so Maria went shopping. C. Alejandro played football, for Maria went shopping.

The above three sentences are compound sentences. Each sentence contains two independent clauses, and they are joined by a coordinator with a comma preceding it. Note how the conscious use of coordinators can change the relationship between the clauses. Sentences B and C, for example, are identical except for the coordinators. In sentence B, which action occurred first? Obviously, "Alejandro played football" first, and as a consequence, "Maria went shopping. In sentence C, "Maria went shopping" first. In sentence C, "Alejandro played football" because, possibly, he didn't have anything else to do, for or because "Maria went shopping." How can the use of other coordinators change the relationship between the two clauses? What implications would the use of "yet" or "but" have on the meaning of the sentence?

COMPLEX SENTENCE A complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which. In the following complex sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the subordinators and their commas (when required) are in red.

A. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page. B. The teacher returned the homework after she noticed the error. C. The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow. D. After they finished studying, Juan and Maria went to the movies. E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after they finished studying.

When a complex sentence begins with a subordinator such as sentences A and D, a comma is required at the end of the dependent clause. When the independent clause begins the sentence with subordinators in the middle as in sentences B, C, and E, no comma is required. If a comma is placed before the subordinators in sentences B, C, and E, it is wrong. Note that sentences D and E are the same except sentence D begins with the dependent clause which is followed by a comma, and sentence E begins with the independent clause which cbvontains no comma. The comma after the dependent clause in sentence D is required, and experienced listeners of English will often hear a slight pause there. In sentence E, however, there will be no pause when the independent clause begins the sentence.

Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence is made from two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Some examples: 1. Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with.

independent clause: "I haven't had the time to go lately" independent clause: "I haven't found anyone to go with" dependent clause: "Although I like to go camping... " **********

2. We decided that the movie was too violent, but our children, who like to watch scary movies, thought that we were wrong.

independent clause: "We decided that the movie was too violent" independent clause: "(but) our children thought that we were wrong" dependent clause: who like to watch scary movies

Compound-complex sentences are very common in English, but one mistake that students often make is to try to write them without having mastered the simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences first. If this is a confusing lesson, return to it later after completing the next three lessons (Lessons Six, Seven, and Eight).

Independent Clause (IC) - Expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.. Independent Clause (IC) - Has a subject, predicate (verb) , and makes sense all by itself. Independent Clause Examples: 1. The doorbell rang. 2. She smiled down on the children. 3. The turkey was hot and juicy. Independent Clauses can come at the end or at the beginning of a sentence. Example: The girl ran to her room when the boy called her. After mother got home, she went to bed. Independent Clauses 1. Since the hurricane hit, many people have been suffering. 2. The clouds gathered quickly because it was going to rain. 3. Although the deer was dead, we picked it up anyway. 4. Father asked us to sit down once the speaker was done. 5. Please be quiet until Mrs. Slagle is finished. Dependent Clauses - Doesnt express a complete thought. It cant stand alone as sentence. It sounds like something else should follow in order to make sense. **Must have a subject and predicate(verb) otherwise its a phrase** Examples: 1. Because the door was open, 2. When it started raining, 3. Until your father gets home, Dependent Clauses - can come at the end or at the beginning of a sentence. Example: The girl ran to her room when the boy called her. After mother got home, she went to bed. Dependent Clauses - begin with Subordinating Conjunctions\ After, although, as, as if, Because, before, For, if, once, Since, so, so that, than, that, though, till, Unless, until, When, whenever, where, whereas, wherever, whether, while

Dependent Clauses - Usually have a comma when they are found in the first part of a Sentence. If found at the end of the sentence , there will not be any comma. Prepositional phrase

A preposition is a word that begins a prepositional phrase and shows the relationship between its object and another word in the sentence. A preposition must always have

an object. A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition, ends with an object, and may have modifiers between the preposition and object of the preposition. Here is a l ist of common words that can be used as prepositions: about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, besides, between, beyond, but (when it means except), by, concerning, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like, near, of, off, on, out, outside, over, past, since, through, to, toward, under, until, up, upon, with, within, and without. These words can be used as other parts of speech. What part of speech it is depends on how it is used in that sentence. Many of the common words used as prepositions can be used as adverbs. They are prepositions if they have an object to complete them. To decide which it is, say the preposition followed by whom or what. If a noun or a pronoun answers the question, the word is a preposition. Example: The boy stood up and ran down the street. Up what? There is no object; therefore up is not a preposition.Down what? Street answers the question; therefore, down is a preposition. Down the street is the prepositional phrase starting with the preposition down and ending with the object street with a modifier the in between. A prepositional phrase may be used as an adjective telling which or what kind and modifying a noun or pronoun. Anadjective prepositional phrase will come right after the noun or pronoun that it modifies. If there are two adjective prepositional phrases together, one will follow the other. Only adjective prepositional phrases modify the object of the preposition in another prepositional phrase.

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