Types of Sentences
Boring, Better, Best
Simple Sentence
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A simple sentence contains a subject
(noun or pronoun) and a predicate
(verb).
It expresses a complete thought.
Simple Sentence
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Examples of simple sentences:
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Joe waited for the train.
Subject: Joe, Predicate: waited for the
train
The train was late.
Subject: train, Predicate: was late
Simple Sentence
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Take out your journal and open to your
most recent entry.
Find TWO simple sentences and copy
them onto your note sheet.
Share them!
Simple Sentence
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Simple sentences are okay to use
sometimes, but if that is all you use
when you write, you sound BORING!!!!
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Example: We ate cereal for breakfast. It
was Apple Jacks. That is my favorite. It
was delicious.
From Boring to Better
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Thankfully, we can add variety to our
writing by using different kinds of
sentences besides just the BORING
SIMPLE SENTENCE!
Let’s look at another type of sentence
that’s BETTER.
Compound Sentence
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A compound sentence is made from
two independent clauses (simple
sentences) hooked together with a
comma and a conjunction
(FANBOYS!), or a semicolon ;
Compound Sentence
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Example of compound sentence:
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Joe waited for the train. (simple)
The train was late. (simple)
Joe waited for the train, but it was late.
(compound)
Compound Sentence
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Look at your two simple sentences that
you wrote from your journal.
Combine them into a compound
sentence using a conjunction.
Record your BETTER sentence onto
your note sheet.
Share them!
Better to Best
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Compound sentences can be much
BETTER than a BORING simple
sentence, but there’s another sentence
that’s the BEST.
Complex Sentence
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A complex sentence is made of one
independent clause and one
dependent clause.
Complex Sentence
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Remember an independent clause can
stand alone as a sentence:
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She went to the football game.
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(Complete sentence)
Complex Sentence
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A dependent clause CANNOT stand
alone. It depends on other words to
make it work.
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Because her brother was playing
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(Not a complete sentence)
Complex Sentence
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If we add the independent clause to
the dependent clause, we can make
our BEST sentence.
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Because her brother was playing, she
went to the football game.
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Notice we connect them using a comma.
If the INDEPENDENT CLAUSE comes first,
you DO NOT need a comma
If the DEPENDENT CLAUSE comes first, you
DO need a comma
Tip
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Here’s a tip for spotting dependent
clauses…many of them begin with one of these
words:
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after
although
as
because
before
even though
if
since
though
unless
until
when
whenever
whereas
wherever
while
BEST!!
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Look back at your two simple sentences
from your journal.
Can you think of a way to combine them to
make a complex sentence?
HINT: You may need to use one of the
words from the list we just recorded.
Write your BEST sentence onto your note
sheet.
Share them!
Try It!
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Read the BORING paragraph about
the dog named Chunk.
Re-write the paragraph using BETTER
(compound) and BEST (complex)
sentences.
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Not every sentence has to be compound
or complex.
Chunk
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My dog’s name is Chunk. He is fat.
He likes to eat pizza. His favorite
pizza is pepperoni. He usually orders
it from Papa John’s.
Label It!
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Go back and label each sentence you
wrote as:
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Simple
Compound (contains a conjunction)
Complex (contains an independent and
a dependent clause)
Share It!
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Share your new paragraph with your
neighbors or with the class.
Doesn’t is sound so much better?
Scary Starters
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It was a cold Halloween night when I saw the...
The mad scientist was creating a new monster that could...
The large cauldron of purple liquid started to boil when...
I got an eerie feeling when I heard...
The mysterious object started floating in the air and...
The Halloween pumpkin turned into a...
The black cat started to crouch and hiss when...
Something in the closet was making a strange noise, so I
opened the door and...
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw...
As I carefully entered the haunted house, the door shut behind
me and...