Even more about Sentences...

Simple Sentences, Compound Sentences, and Complex Sentences

A simple sentence has one subject and one predicate. The subject and/or predicate may even be a compound subject and/or a compound predicate.

• Pepper likes Jack.
• Pepper wrote a note and gave it to Frannie.
• Pepper and Frannie share a secret.

A compound sentence is a sentence containing two or more independent clauses that are usually joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet.

Independent clauses are sentences because they express a complete thought and can stand alone. 

• Pepper likes Jack, but she is currently dating Skip.

Independent clause one, (Pepper likes Jack) is followed by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (,but) and independent clause two (she is currently dating Skip).

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.

A subordinate clause is often called the dependent clause and can not stand alone.  Think of it as the opposite of the independent clause.

Subordinating clauses can appear at the beginning, the middle, or the end of a complex sentence.

• When Pepper sees Frannie talking to Skip, she gets jealous.

In the complex sentence, the independent clause (she gets jealous) follows the subordinate clause (When Pepper sees Frannie talking to Skip).

Subordinating clauses do not express a complete thought.  They often create a condition or environment for the independent thought to flourish.  Call them the supporting staff.  Consider this again...

• When Pepper sees Frannie talking to Skip, she gets jealous.

If the independent clause above was standing alone, we would not know the condition or environment of her jealousy.  We wouldn't even know who she was.  The subordinating clause gives us the information that we needed.  It created the condition or environment.

More about Sentences...

The Four Kinds of Sentences

A declarative sentence makes a statement and ends with a period (.).

• Penny is ready for school. 

This sentence makes a statement about Penny.  To declare something means to announce, state or proclaim it.  A declarative sentence does just that.

A interrogative sentence asks a question and ends with a question mark (?).

• Doesn't Penny look smashing in her new frock? 

This sentence is asking you a question about Penny's cute outfit.  When you think of interrogive, think of those detective shows.  When suspects are interrogated, they are questioned.  To interrogate means to question.

An exclammatory sentence shows excitement or storng feelings and ends with an exclamation point (!).

• Penny rocks!

This sentence is expressing excitement about Penny.  To exclaim means to speak out strongly with emotion.  In this sentence, I am speaking strongly how I feel about Penny.  She rocks!

An imperative sentence gives a command or makes a request and ends with a period (.) or exclamation point(!).

• Give me a minute.
• Seriously, wait on me!

In these sentences, I am requesting Penny to wait on me.  Something that is imperative is absolutely necessary or important.  When you are requesting something from someone, it is usually something that is needed.  Always remember, the subject of an imperative sentence is always you.  If it is not written in the sentence, it is understood.  Hence the name, understood you.

• (You) Give me a minute.
• Seriously, (you) wait on me!

Since I am speaking to Penny, she is the you in the sentences.

Sentences, Subjects and Predicates

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. 

• Little Tuti loves green apples.

Sentences contain subjects and predicates.

The subject of a sentence tells whom or what the sentence is about.

• Little Tuti is the subject.

A simple subject, or noun, is the main word or phrase that tells whom or what the sentence is about.

• Tuti is the simple subject of the sentence.  It tells whom the sentence is about.

The predicate of a sentence tells something about the subject.  The predicate tells what the subject is, what it is like, or an action that it performs.

• Loves green apples is the predicate.

A simple predicate, or verb, is the main word or verb phrase that tells what the subject is, is like, or action performed.

• Loves is the simple predicate of the sentence.  It tells what an action perfomed by Tuti.

Sometimes sentences contain compound subjects and compound predicates.

Little Tuti and Silly Maggie sing and dance to Christmas music in July.

A compound subject consists of two or more subjects share the same predicate.

• The compound subject is Little Tuti and Silly Maggie.

A compound predicate consists of two or more verbs that share the same subject.

• The compound predicate is sing and dance.