Name:



Name: __________________________

Sentence structure - “fill-in-the-blanks” notes

A __________________________ is a group of words that contains a ____________________ (simple or complete) and a ____________________________ (simple or complete). So any time a subject and predicate are working together, a clause exists.

There are two types of clauses:

1) ________________________ clauses (sometimes called “main clauses”)

2) ____________________ clauses (sometimes called “subordinate clauses”)

An independent clause _________________________________________________ as a complete sentence. (Think about it…what does the word “independent” mean when we use it to describe someone? Same concept!)

Examples:

– The students went on a field trip.

– That car is shiny.

A dependent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb, but _________________________________ or make sense by itself. A dependent clause needs to be connected to an independent clause to make sense – otherwise, it’s considered to be a fragment.

Examples:

– After the students went on a field trip, they ate lunch.

– We’ll just have to wait here until the teacher comes back.

Identification practice

On the spaces provided in your notes, please state whether the following clauses are independent or dependent.

1) We watched the movie at his house. __________________________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

2) But not on Saturdays. _________________________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

3) Whenever she comes home. _____________________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

4) He gave me a present for Valentine’s day. ______________________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

Three ways to build a sentence

In the English language, there are three basic sentence structures:

1) ________________________ sentences

2) ________________________ sentences

3) ________________________ sentences

A simple sentence contains _______________________________________________. In other words, these sentences just have a complete subject that’s been combined with a complete predicate. It can be short or long.

(One independent clause = one ____________ sentence)

Examples of simple sentences:

• She ate.

• The student was tardy.

• The boy delivered the pizza.

• My grandmother’s neighbor from across the hallway ate a whole pot of spaghetti and meatballs by herself.

A compound sentence consists of ___________________________________________________________. Each independent clause has its own subject and predicate, and though these clauses make sense on their own (apart), they’ve been combined using a comma and a conjunction. Compound sentences DO NOT have dependent clauses.

(One independent clause + a comma + conjunction + another independent clause = a compound sentence)

Examples of compound sentences:

1) Erin went shopping, and Molly went to a concert.

2) Austin cheered for UT football, while Mrs. Burgess cheered for OU football.

A complex sentence consists of one ___________________________________________ that’s been paired up with one or more _________________________________________. If we separated the clauses of a complex sentence, one clause would make sense on its own, but the other wouldn’t

(One ________________________ clause + one _______________________ clause = one complex sentence)

Examples of complex sentences:

• We’ll just have to wait here until the bus comes.

• Whenever I hear that song, I think about my best friend.

Practice – sentence structures

1) Adventure books fill the reader with suspense. ___________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

2) No one knows the origin of the harp, but it is very ancient. ________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

3) Whenever I eat, my stomach expands to the since of a watermelon. __________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

4) The violin has four strings, but a guitar usually has six. _______________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

5) Whenever I see that movie, it makes me cry. ___________________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

6) Let’s eat lunch outside. _____________

Explanation: _________________________________________________________________

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