The Writing Centre’s Guide To Sentence Structure

The Writing Centre’sGuide to SentenceStructureThis PowerPoint is the property of Humber College’s Writing Centre andcannot be reproduced without the consent of the Writing Centre - 2015WRITING TUTORS

Types of Sentences We are going to discuss three types of sentence structure. What are they?SIMPLE SENTENCESCOMPOUND SENTENCESCOMPLEX SENTENCES

Simple Sentences Simple sentences consist of one independent clause, which maybe long or short.Examples1 subject & 1 verbBirds fly.Birds fly in the winter.1 subject and 2 verbsSadia washes and dries thedishes.2 subjects and 1 verbJack and Dan study together2 subjects and 2 verbsSadia and Ali work and livetogether.

Simple Sentences Simple sentences consist of one independent clause, which maybe long or short.Examples1 subject & 1 verbBirds fly.Birds fly in the winter.1 subject and 2 verbsSadia washes and dries thedishes.2 subjects and 1 verbJack and Dan study together2 subjects and 2 verbsSadia and Ali work and livetogether.

Simple Sentences Simple sentences consist of one independent clause, which maybe long or short.Examples1 subject & 1 verbBirds fly.Birds fly in the winter.1 subject and 2 verbsSadia washes and dries thedishes.2 subjects and 1 verbJack and Dan study together2 subjects and 2 verbsSadia and Ali work and livetogether.

Simple Sentences All of the previous sentencesare simple sentencesbecause they contain oneindependent clause. Don’t be confused if thesentence is longer like theseThe children laughed at thepenguins, ran away from themonkeys, and fed the goats.Jimmy, a star basketball playerand excellent student, lives inWindsor, Ontario, across fromDetroit, Michigan.

Simple SentencesWhen should I use simplesentences? Use simple sentences when whatyou want to say is a single thought. Without unrelated andunnecessary words and thoughtsconfusing the issue, your meaningwill be easier for your readers tounderstand. Be careful! A long series of simplesentences will make your writingchoppy and dull .

Compound SentencesWhat is it? A compound sentence consists of joining two or moreindependent clauses (simple sentences). You can do this using three strategies!1. Semi-colon2. Coordinating conjunction3. Conjunctive adverb

Compound SentencesStrategy #1 Semi-colonsUsing semi-colons: A semi-colon can be used like aperiod when connecting simplesentences.Here are examples of simplesentences:1. Kate passed the course. Shestudied hard.2. Plastic surgery is expensive. Theresults are not always good.1. Kate passed the course;she studied hard.2. Plastic surgery isexpensive; the results arenot always good.

Compound SentencesStrategy #2 CoordinatingConjunctions Use a coordinatingconjunction and a comma tojoin two simple sentences. What are rutretoReason; similar to effect

Compound Sentences Kate passed the course,for Plastic surgery is expensive,but the results are not always good.she studied hard.

Compound SentencesStrategy #3 Conjunctive adverbs To use this technique, insert a semi-colon, then the conjunctiveadverb, and then a comma.Here are some conjunctive adverbs:AlsoFinallyLikewiseAnywayFurthermore MeanwhileAs a resultHoweverMoreoverBesidesIn addition NeverthelessCertainlyIn factNextConsequently IndeedNowOn the other handOtherwiseSimilarlyThenThereforeThus

Compound SentencesExamples:Kate studied hard; consequently, she passed the course.Plastic surgery is expensive; however, the results are not always good.

Compound SentencesThe following paragraph needs punctuation to complete thecoordination of compound sentences correctly. Where would youinsert the proper punctuation?Susan was asked to create an advertisement for the violin concertso she designed a flyer. She figured she needed 100 copies to postaround town therefore she went to the print shop. Susan presentedthe flyer to the man behind the counter he determined it wassuitable for reproduction. It could be reproduced on a copier or itcould be reproduced on a printing press. The printing press wouldgenerate higher quality the copier however would be quicker.

Compound SentencesThe following paragraph needs punctuation to complete thecoordination of compound sentences correctly. Where would youinsert the proper punctuation?Susan was asked to create an advertisement for the violin concert,so she designed a flyer. She figured she needed 100 copies to postaround town; therefore, she went to the print shop. Susan presentedthe flyer to the man behind the counter; he determined it wassuitable for reproduction. It could be reproduced on a copier, or itcould be reproduced on a printing press. The printing press wouldgenerate higher quality; the copier, however, would be quicker.

Compound SentencesHow could you combine thesesentences using the threestrategies we have learned? Blue Rodeo is playing at the AirCanada Centre. My friend, Domenic, said hecould not get tickets.1. Blue Rodeo is playing at the AirCanada Centre; my friend,Domenic, said he could notget tickets.2. Blue Rodeo is playing at the AirCanada Centre, but my friend,Domenic, said he could notget tickets.3. Blue Rodeo is playing at the AirCanada Centre; however, myfriend, Domenic, said he couldnot get tickets

Compound SentencesWhen do I use compoundsentences? We use a compoundsentence to show that twoideas are related, and are ofequal significance. Joining two ideas to show arelationship of equalimportance is known ascoordination.

Complex SentencesWhat is it? A complex sentence consists of joining one independent clause (simplesentence) to one or more dependent clauses. It doesn’t matter if the independent clause starts or ends the sentence,the meaning is the same.What’s the difference between an independent clause and a dependentclause?Independent clause subject verb complete thoughtexample: Dan extinguished the fire.Dependent clause subject verb incomplete thoughtexample: When Dan extinguished the fire.

Complex SentencesIndependent ClauseDependent Clausesubject verb complete thoughtsubject verb incomplete thoughtexample: Dan extinguished the fire.example: When Dan extinguished thefire. In this example we have acomplete thought. The subject isDan, the verb is extinguished, andwe know that the fire was put outby Dan. In this example we don’t have acomplete thought. The subject is stillDan, the verb is still extinguished,but the word “when” causes us toquestion what happened after Danextinguished the fire. This makes thethought incomplete.

Complex SentencesExamples:Combine these sentences using a subordinating conjunction.My toe hurts.Aria stepped on it.My toe hurts because Aria stepped on it.Because Aria stepped on it, my toe hurt.

Complex Sentences Here are some subordinating conjunctions:aftereven ifsincewhateveralthougheven thoughthoughwhenasifunlesswhereasbecausein order thatuntilwhilebeforeas ifso thatwhenever

Complex SentencesWhich clause is independent?Which clause is dependent?1. John sat down while his mother made dinner.2. Since Stephen and Joanna play together every week, they arereally good friends.3. Even if you practice everyday, you will never be as good Atbasketball as Michael Jordan.

Complex SentencesWhich clause is independent?Which clause is dependent?1. John sat down while his mother made dinner.2. Since Stephen and Joanna play together every week, they arereally good friends.3. Even if you practice everyday, you will never be as good Atbasketball as Michael Jordan.

Complex SentencesWhich clause is independent?Which clause is dependent?1. John sat down while his mother made dinner.2. Since Stephen and Joanna play together every week, they arereally good friends.3. Even if you practice everyday, you will never be as good Atbasketball as Michael Jordan.

Complex SentencesWhen do I use complex sentences? When you want to show a relationship between two or moreideas, one which is more important than the others. Be careful! Overusing complex sentences may result in confusingrun-on sentences.

What we’ve learned:1. Simple Sentences2. Compound Sentences3. Complex SentencesVary your sentence structure to createmore interesting writing.You’re finished!**If you found this helpful, please speak to one of our WritingCentre tutors on ways to view these slides on your own time

This PowerPoint is the property of Humber College’s Writing Centre and cannot be reproduced without the consent of the Writing Centre - 2015 . Types of Sentences We are going to discuss three types of sentence structure. What are they? SIMPLE SENTENCES COMPOUND SENTENCES . COMPLEX SENTENCES . Simple Sentences Simple sentences .