Sentence Writing Strategy - U of Kansas



Sentence Writing Strategy - U of Kansas

Introductory Steps - as with all strategies

I. Simple Sentences

A. Simple Sentences have one independent clause.

B. An independent clause has at least one subject and one verb.

C. The subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing the sentence is about.

1. ex: The boy went jogging. (person)

2. ex: The park was well-lit. (place)

3. ex: The egg was broken. (thing)

D. The verb tells the action or state of being in a sentence.

1. ex: Sally sneezed three times. (action)

2. ex: John is happy. (state of being)

3. ex: The girl was in the store. (state of being)

E. Some simple sentences have one subject and one verb.

1. ex: I ate apples.

2. ex: Bob is tired.

F. Some simple sentences have compound subjects.

1. ex: Bill and Sue went to the movies.

2. ex: The dog and cat raced through the yard.

G. Some simple sentences have compound verbs.

1. ex: Sally swam in the pool and played cards later on.

2. ex: The plumber fixed the sink and gave us a bill.

H. Some simple sentences have both compound subjects and compound verbs.

1. ex: The umpire and coach screamed at the top of their lungs and kicked dirt at each

other.

2. ex: Jan and Paul climbed a mountain and camped at the park.

II. Compound Sentences

A. A compound sentence has two independent clauses (or two simple sentences).

1. ex: Mary is in 5th grade, and Joe is in 7th grade.

B. Connect the two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction:

For But

And Or

Nor Yet

So

C. Or . . . use a semicolon to join the two independent clauses.

1. ex: Susan swam three miles; John biked two miles.

III. Complex Sentences

A. A complex sentence has one independent clause and one dependent clause.

1. An independent clause can stand alone.

2. A dependent clause cannot stand alone.

B. Subordinating Conjunctions are used. Some examples include: if, because, when, since,

unless, although, whenever, so that, after, before, where, why, how, until.

C. The independent and dependent clauses can come first or second.

1. If the dependent clause is first, you need to include a comma.

2. ex: Because she is funny, I like Sally.

IV. Compound-Complex Sentences

A. These are a combination of both compound sentences and complex sentences. They have

two or more independent clauses, and they have one dependent clause.

B. Patterns

1. D, I, I - After the party was over, Jean had a headache, so Paul cleaned up.

2. I D, I - Jean had a headache after the part was over, so Paul cleaned up.

3. I, I D - Jean had a headache, so Paul cleaned up after the party was over.

4. A compound-complex sentence with a semi-colon.

Ex: a) I; I D - Mike came late to class; his professor yelled at him after class was over.

b) I D; I - Mr. Smith graded papers until his eyes hurt; he may need glasses.

c) D, I; I - Before the trick-or-treaters came, Julie made candied apples; they

were delicious.

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