Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

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

Revision 

Punctuation 

Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you:

• Know when and how to add speech marks and other punctuation in sentences. 
• can identify simple, compound and complex sentences. 
• can form correct simple, compound and complex sentences. 

Introduce the learning objective and let the students know what they will achieve by the end of the lesson.

Punctuation

Apostrophes of possession and omission

Do exercises A-F on p. 26-28

What do you think is a simple sentence?

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.

Simple Sentences

One subject and one verb. 

My mother and father speak English well. 

My older brother is a lawyer and has a good job. 

My mother and father speak and write English well. 

Simple subject / compound subject / simple verb / compound verb

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.

Two or more subjects, two or more verbs.

A touchdown is six points, and a field goal is three points.

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

Compound sentences

Two independent clauses (two simple sentences) connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction:

and, but, or, so. 

It is possible to connect three simple sentences. Do not connect more than three, and don't use the same conjunction twice!

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

Coordinating conjunctions

and	connects two sentences with similar ideas.
but	connects two sentences with contrasting or opposite ideas.
or	connects two sentences that express alternatives or choices.
so	connects a reason and a result.

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.

Complex Sentences

A dependent clause is an independent clause with a subordinating conjuction added to the beginning of it. 

A dependent clause does not express a complete thought, so it is not a sentence by itself.

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

Complex Sentences

We went to a beach because it was a sunny day. 

(no comma / IC + DC)

Because it was a sunny day, we went to a beach. 

(comma / DC, + IC)

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 'Unusual vacations are becoming popular.'

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

What type of sentence is 'A friend of mine likes to help people, so he spent his summer helping to build a school in India.'

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

Create a compound sentence using 'and'.

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

How helpful was this lesson for you?

010

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

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