SENTENC ES

SENTENC ES

A LIFE SENTENCE IN ENGLISH The English language is made up of different types of sentences. Today we will be looking at these three: 1. A simple sentence 2. A compound sentence 3. A complex sentence www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

INGREDIENTS FOR A SIMPLE SENTENCE Subject: ONE OR MORE NOUNS (person, place, thing or idea) Action: ONE VERB (the action of the subject) Complete idea (makes sense on its own) www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

To find the subject ask yourself who or what is doing the action. The rest of the sentence is called the predicate. Identify the subject in these sentences: 1. Alison swam in the pool. 2. A kangaroo hopped into view. 3. The tree’s branches were laden down with fruit. 4. Andrew and Peter played by the creek. 5. High in the tree, a koala and her baby slept peacefully. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

A SIMPLE SENTENCE 1. Alison swam in the pool. 2. A kangaroo hopped into view. 3. The tree’s branches were laden down with fruit. 4. Andrew and Peter played by the creek. 5. High in the tree, a koala and her baby slept peacefully. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

COMPOUND SENTENCES If there are two or more nouns doing the action it is called a compound subject. For example: The emu, Goanna and Wombat were running across to the water hole. Martha and Emma sailed across the bay in a dinghy. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

COMPOUND SENTENCES Once you have simple sentences sorted, then compound sentences are a cinch! A compound sentence is the joining of two simple sentences (independent clauses) using a coordinating conjunction. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

FANBOYS – THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS For And Nor But Or YetSo - the reason in addition not this either in contrast an alternative something unexpected in conclusion www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

SIMPLE SENTENCES TO COMPOUND SENTENCES 1. The Australians enjoy AFL. There are some great players. The Australians enjoy the AFL, for there are some great players. 2. Ice Age was a great film. The Hobbit was better. Ice Age was a great film, but The Hobbit was better. 3. Watson was a deep thinker. Sherlock Holmes was his mentor. Watson was a deep thinker, and Sherlock Holmes was is mentor. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

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COORDINATING CLAUSES Use a different FANBOYS coordinating conjunction to join a simple sentence on the left with a simple sentence on the right to create 6 new compound sentences. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

COMPLEX SENTENCES As their name suggests, complex sentences are more complicated than compound and simple sentences. A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. (Remember that an independent clause is also a simple sentence, so we’re halfway there already!) A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought, and cannot www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE? A dependent clause is a group of words with a verb, but it relies on an independent clause to give it meaning. The independent and dependent clause are often joined by a subordinating conjunction. A subordinating conjunction shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

FOR EXAMPLE He refused to give up his dream of becoming an author because he loved writing. The independent clause – He refused to give up his dream needs no explanation. It makes sense on its own. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

FOR EXAMPLE He refused to give up his dream of becoming an author because he loved writing. However, the dependent clause; because he loved writing. needs a reason. It does not make sense on its own. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

FOR EXAMPLE He refused to give up his dream of becoming an author because he loved writing. The subordinating conjunction because gives the reason why he didn’t want to give up his dream. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

MORE EXAMPLES James went to the movies then he went to a swimming lesson. James went to the movies makes sense on its own. It is independent. then he went to a swimming lesson. Needs more information so that it makes sense. It is dependent on more information. We need to know what happened before. The subordinating conjunction ‘then’ shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

EXAMPLES CONTINUED James went to the movies because Alison went to a swimming lesson. James went to the movies makes sense on its own. It is independent. because Alison went to a swimming lesson. Needs more information so that it makes sense. It is dependent on more information. This action happened as a result of a previous action. The subordinating conjunction ‘because’ shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

COMMON SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS after although as as if as long as as though because before even if even though if if only in order that now that once rather than since so that than that though till unless until when whenever where whereas wherever while www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

Complex Sentence Examples After reading the novel, Michael wanted to see The Hobbit. When she returned from the shops, Hannah decided to clean her room. Although it had stopped raining, the pool overflowed. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

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INTERESTING SENTENCES Work with a partner for this activity. On a sheet of paper each write 5 simple sentences. Cut each of your sentences out so that you have 10 separate sentences. Use a different subordinating conjunction to join your sentences to make 5 complex sentences. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com

HOMEWORK CHALLENGE On Saturday I went to the beach. It was great fun. My dad and I build a fantastic sandcastle. I played in the ocean. I jumped over the waves. My brother and I body surfed. We had fish and chips for lunch. It was delicious. We ate them sitting on the beach. A seagull tried to steal my chips. Dad had to chase it away. He looked very funny madly flapping his arms around. Mum had packed the cricket set. We played cricket. Lots of other people on the beach joined in. There are 15 sentences in this boring account of a trip to the beach. Rewrite this account using simple, compound and complex sentences. You must retain all the information, but write only 7 sentences. www.thinkingskillsforchildren.com