Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1-4

Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

What is a sentence?

• A sentence must contain both a subject and a verb and express a complete thought.

• A subject is who or what is doing the action.

• The verb is the action. 

Peter walks to school.

Clauses (bijzin)

• A main (independent) clause:  

-contains a subject and a verb 

-can stand alone.

e.g. 'They were sad.'

• A subordinate (dependent) clause: 

-contains a subject and a verb

-is not a complete thought

-it begins with a subordinating conjunction ( e.g. a linking word)

e.g. 'Because we won the game.'

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is a basic sentence that expresses a complete thought. It contains:

1. A subject

2. A verb

3. A complete thought

e.g. The train was late.

         Mary and Maggie took the bus. 

Compound Sentences

When you join two simple sentences with the linking words for, and, nor, but, or, yet or so , you get a compound sentence.

for, and, nor, but, or, yet or so (FANBOYS), 

I need to take the test, but I am too sick to go to school.

It was getting late, and we hadn’t had our dinner yet.

Complex Sentences

When you add a dependent clause to a simple sentence with linking words such as because, although, after, when, before, you get a complex sentence.

She liked singing in front of the mirror when she was younger.

There were no pizzas left in the canteen, because I was late.

Lots of cars drive past our house every day.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

She ran to class after she heard the school bell.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

You could read a book or we could take a walk in the park.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

Franny and Collin went to Amsterdam yesterday.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

Becoming a yoga instructor is my dream job.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

It's getting late, so I am going to bed now.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

I saw a man just now who was wearing a blue hat.

1. simple
2. compound
3. complex

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence has one independent clause and expresses a complete thought.

One subject and one verb. 

My grandmother has the flu.

Explain what a simple sentence is and provide an example. Ask students to come up with their own simple sentence examples.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

One or more subjects, two or more verbs.

My grandmother has the flu and lies in bed.

Explain what a compound sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the coordinating conjunction in the example sentence.

Complex Sentences

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

Words like because, although, after, when, before, which, that, who, whose connect the sentences.

My grandmother lies in bed because she has the flu.

Explain what a complex sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the dependent clause in the example sentence.

What type of sentence is 'Although she was tired, she stayed up late to finish her homework'?

1. Complex
2. Compound
3. None of the above
4. Simple

Create a compound sentence using 'and'.

Create a complex sentence using the dependent clause 'because he was hungry'.

More on this

https://www.mrchadd.nl/academy/vakken/engels/simple-compound-en-complex-sentences-hoe-maak-je-die-precies

Review the key points of the lesson and ask if there are any questions or areas that need further clarification.

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