ELA-Compound & Complex Sentences

What is a compound sentence?

A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Examples of coordinating conjunctions

For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

How can you join two independent clauses?

You can join them using a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

What is an independent clause?

a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence; it has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

What punctuation is used before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence?

comma

Identify the independent clauses: 'I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining.'

'I wanted to go for a walk' and 'it was raining' are both independent clauses.

Give an example of a compound sentence.

I wanted pizza for dinner, but my friend wanted sushi.

Identify the coordinating conjunction in the following sentence. I wanted pizza for dinner, but my friend wanted sushi.

but

What is a complex sentence?

One independent clause joined with one dependent clause by a subordinating conjunction

What is a subordinating conjunction?

a word that connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.

Give an example of a complex sentence using a subordinating conjunction.

Although it was raining, I decided to go for a walk.

Although it was raining, I decided to go for a walk. Which word is the subordinating conjunction in the previous sentence?

Although

Although it was raining, I decided to go for a walk. Which is the independent clause in the previous sentence?

I decided to go for a walk

Although it was raining, I decided to go for a walk. Which is the dependent clause in the previous sentence?

Although it was raining

If a complex sentence begins with a dependent clause, it’s followed by a ______.

comma

What is the first word of a dependent clause?

subordinating conjunction

We will play our baseball game unless it snows. Which word is the subordinating conjunction?

unless

We will play our baseball game unless it snows. What is the independent clause?

We will play our baseball game

We will play our baseball game unless it snows. What is the dependent clause?

unless it snows

If the complex sentence begins with a dependent clause, do you need a comma?

Yes

If the complex sentence begins with an Independent clause, is it followed by a comma?

No

More examples of subordinating conjunctions

although, as if, as much as, before, in order that, in as much as

Examples of subordinating conjunctions

provided, till, whenever, whether, where, wherever, while