The Simpsons Teach Sentences

Main (Independent) Clause --- is like Marge.

• Marge is an independent woman. She can survive on her own.

Main (Independent) ClauseJust like Marge, an independent clause can survive on its

own. It is a complete sentence.

A main (independent)

clause has • a subject• a verb• is a complete

thought

Examples of Main (Independent) Clauses

• Bart does not like to go to school.

• Lisa loves the saxophone.• Homer does not work

hard at the power plant.• After a long day at work,

Marge likes to do yoga.

Compound SentenceMain (independent) clause , FANBOY main (independent) clause.

Main (independent) clause ; main (independent) clause.

Bart hates school, so he makes fun of the teachers.

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So,

Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses --are like Homer

Homer is messed up when he is on his own. Without Marge by his side, things go wrong. He is

DEPENDENT

on Marge and cannot survive without her.

Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses

Just like Homer, a dependent clause cannot survive by itself. It does not express a complete thought.

A subordinate clause• has a subject• has a verb• is NOT a complete

thought

Examples of Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses

until the next time I see him

when I ran to the yellow house

although I want to get an A in math

that fell in the river

subordinating conjunctions

Subordinate (dependent) clauses begin with signal words.

They signal the beginning of a subordinate clause

Subordinating Conjunctions

after in order that although provided when as since whenever as if so that where as long as than wherever as though though while because unless whatever before until if

A Rule To Know!

A dependent clause (Homer) must have an

independent clause (Marge) by it to be a complete sentence.

Simple Sentences: subject verb complete thought

• Marge walks to the lake.• Homer sleeps too much.• Bart is cool.• Lisa will want to get a

dog.• The last “normal” person

on earth is Ned.• After lunch, Homer will

take a nap.

Complex Sentences

one main (independent clause) one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses

Homer(D.C.), + Marge (I.C.)

Until Homer met Marge, he was a nobody.

Marge (I.C.) + Homer (D.C.)

Homer was a nobody until he met Marge.

So…Let’s make

Complex Sentences.

The formulas

are...

DEPENDENTC

LAUSE,

+

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

=

COMPLEX SENTENCE

Examples of Complex Sentences

• Until Lisa goes to college, she will have to live with her parents.

• When the grass turns green, Homer will have to mow the lawn.

• After Bart passes third grade, there will be a huge celebration.

OR

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

+

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Examples of Complex SentenceMarge + Homer. (NO COMMA)

• Lisa will have to live with her parents until she goes to college.

• Homer will have to mow the lawn when the grass turns green.

• There will be a huge celebration when Bart passes third grade.

Let’s practice the

different kinds of

sentences.

Spillane Middle School is ranked #1 in the state of Texas.

What kind of sentence is this?Simple, Compound, or Complex ?

How can you tell?

Spillane Middle School is ranked #1 in the state of Texas.

What kind of sentence is this?Simple

How can you tell?It has one main (independent) clause.

Mrs. Harris is quite a strange teacher, but Mr. Horner, Mrs. Ehler, Mrs. Martin and Mr. Thompson are even stranger.

What kind of sentence is this?Simple, Compound, or

Complex ?• How can you tell?

Mrs. Harris is quite a strange teacher, but Mr. Horner, Mrs. Ehler, Mrs. Martin and Mr. Thompson are even stranger.

What kind of sentence is this? Compound

How can you tell?

Main clause, FANBOY main clause.

Although I can’t swim, the beach is a glorious vacation spot.

What kind of sentence is this?Simple, Compound, or

Complex ?

How can you tell?

Although I can’t swim, the beach is a glorious vacation spot.

What kind of sentence is this? Complex

How can you tell?

Subordinate (dependent) clause, main (independent) clause.

The beach is a glorious vacation spot although I can’t swim.

What kind of sentence is this?

Simple

Compound

Complex ?

How can you tell?

+

subordinate (dependent) clause.

The beach is a glorious vacation spot although I can’t swim.

What kind of sentence is this? Complex

How can you tell?

Main (independent) clause

+

subordinate (dependent) clause.

Relative pronouns can also begin subordinate (dependent) clauses.

that

which

who

whom

whose

whoever

what

Examples of complex sentences:

Bart is the boy who set the school on fire.

Lisa, whose work is displayed in the hall, is one of the teacher’s favorite students.

I don’t think that Maggie will ever learn to talk.

The boy who ordered all the pizzas and sent them to the principal’s office will have two d-halls.

Examples of complex sentences:main clause

[subordinate clause]

Bart is the boy [who set the school on fire].

Lisa, [whose work is displayed in the hall], is one of the teacher’s favorite students.

I don’t think [that Maggie will ever learn to talk].

The boy [who ordered all the pizzas and sent them to the principal’s office] will have two d-halls.