Ever feel like you re not getting anywhere with your writing???

Ever feel like you re not getting anywhere with your writing???

The Sentence Once a writer knows the difference between the sentence types (simple, compound, complex, compound complex), it is possible to write with sentence variety. Sentence variety helps make your writing more interesting. It also helps you understand commas and cut down on comma usage problems.

Terms you will need to know Subject Verb Clause (group of words with a subject and a verb) Independent-strong, stands alone Dependent-subordinate-weak, needs support

Simple sentence A simple sentence has one independent clause and no dependent clauses: The student yawned.

Although a simple sentence cannot have a dependent clause, it can have modifiers: The tall student sitting in the back in my algebra class yawned loudly. The basic sentence is The student yawned. The other words are modifiers - they are descriptive words.

A simple sentence contains only one independent clause, but it can have more than one subject or verb: TWO SUBJECTS: The student and his friend yawned. TWO VERBS : The student yawned and fell asleep.

Compound sentence A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses that are usually joined by a coordinating conjunction: The experiment was deemed successful, yet our results were unsatisfactory. The students were unhappy with their professor, for he often wasted their time in class. Henry got a new job, so he has to move. I have a lot of homework, but I am not going to have time to study tonight.

Coordinating Conjunctions FANBOYS = for and nor but or yet so

CAUTION! Do NOT use a comma every time you use the words and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet. Use a comma only when the coordinating conjunction joins two independent clauses. The necklace was beautiful but expensive. (no comma needed before but because it is not an independent clause)

Notice the difference between a simple sentence with a compound verb and a compound sentence with two clauses: SIMPLE COMPOUND My house guests returned from a long day of shopping and went straight to bed. My house guests returned home from a long day of shopping, and we decided to stay at home instead of going out. What is the difference?

Compound sentence without coordinating conjunctions Yet, while most compound sentences are formed with a coordinating conjunctions, often good writers decide to eliminate the conjunction and simply add a semicolon: The ambitious student initiated the research; the teacher was pleased by her efforts. The students were unhappy with their professor; he often wasted their time in class.

Compound sentence without coordinating conjunctions When a transition leads a clause, it is usually followed by a comma. If the transition lands in the middle of a compound sentence, use the semicolon, and then follow the transition with a comma: The experiment was deemed successful; unfortunately, our results were unsatisfactory. The students were unhappy with their professor; undeniably, he often wasted their time in class.

Complex sentence A complex sentence has an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses (independent clauses are in italics). Note that introductory dependent clauses must be followed by commas: Since we got to the concert late, we had to make our way to our seats in the dark. We left class early so that we could attend a special lecture.

Subordinating Conjunctions Abbie saw a wuwu. (Refer to list of subordinating conjunctions)

Complex sentences should be punctuated in one of two ways: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE dependent clause (no comma) We left class early so that we could attend a special lecture. Dependent clause, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (comma) So that we could attend a special lecture, we left class early.

Compound Complex Sentence A compound complex sentence has TWO or more Independent clauses and ONE or more dependent clauses Mark and John will grill the burgers, and you can make the potato salad before the football game starts. Sarah went to the store; she bought orange juice and chicken soup because her mom was sick.

Test Yourself Simple, Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex? 1. The teacher walked into the classroom, greeted the students, and took attendance. 2. Juan played football while Jane went shopping. 3. Juan played football, yet Jim went shopping. 4. Although Mexico has a better team, they lost the tournament, and their more aggressive style did not pay off. 5. The island was filled with many trails winding through the thick underbrush, a small lake, and dangerous wild animals. 6. Naoki passed the test because he studied hard, but Stacy did not understand the material.

Long, rambling sentences Writing that has too many strings of independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions can be tiresome and frustrating for the reader. These long rambling sentences leave the reader out of breath and wondering which information is important. Long rambling sentences are also perceived as informal because they duplicate spoken language

Look at this paragraph with many independent clauses joined with coordinating conjunctions: I went home, but my roommate wasn't there, so I started to cook dinner, but my roommate came in and saw me trying to cook his favorite recipe, but I didn't really know how to make it well, and he got really angry, so I stopped cooking, and he made dinner for us, and then everything was all right.

The independent clauses are underlined, and the coordinating conjunctions are in bold: I went home, but my roommate wasn't there, so I started to cook dinner, but my roommate came in and saw me trying to cook his favorite recipe, but I didn't really know how to make it well, and he got really angry, so I stopped cooking, and he made dinner for us, and then everything was all right.

This is better! Notice how it makes use of a variety of sentence structures. When I went home, my roommate wasn't there, so I started to cook dinner. Then, my roommate came in and saw me trying to cook his favorite recipe even though I didn't know how to make it well. I stopped cooking because he got really angry. In the end, he made dinner for us, and everything was all right.

Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases! I thought of this poem while I was watching my dog play. Not a TERRIBLE sentence, really, but not a very interesting one, either.

Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases! I thought of this poem while I was watching my dog play. By creating an introductory participial phrase, we improve things dramatically: Watching my dog play, I thought of a great idea for a poem.

Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases! I wrote this poem after I finished a challenging basketball game. By creating an introductory participial phrase, we improve things dramatically: Finishing a challenging basketball game, I paused to write this poem.

Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases! My mom wrote this poem for me. It s about childhood. What would you do to improve this?

Sometimes you can improve things by just adding a few interesting phrases! My friend, Sabrina, wrote this poem for me. She told me that her cat inspired her to write it. What would you do to improve this?