Complex Sentences and Fragments Study Guide

Complex Sentences

• Definition:

  • Consist of an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Independent Clauses

• Definition:

  • An independent clause stands alone as a complete sentence.

  • It can convey a full idea without any additional information.

Dependent Clauses

• Definition:

  • A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

  • It requires an independent clause to provide context or complete the thought.

Example of a Complex Sentence

• Sentence: "Since it is cold, I will drink a hot cup of coffee."

  • Dependent Clause: "Since it is cold" (Dependent word: "Since")

  • Independent Clause: "I will drink a hot cup of coffee"

  • Structure:

  • Dependent clause followed by an independent clause (DC, IC)

  • A comma is necessary after the dependent clause.

  • Reversed Sentence: "I will drink a hot cup of coffee since it is cold."

  • Structure: IC, DC without a comma necessary.

Identifying Clauses

• Task: Determine if sentences are dependent or independent.

• Examples:

  1. "Americans adore pets."

  • Type: Independent

  1. "Although high-end pet food is very expensive."

  • Type: Dependent (Dependent word: "Although")

  1. "When Monty needs the right cut."

  • Type: Dependent (Dependent word: "When")

  1. "Some pestilists can earn $100 an hour."

  • Type: Independent

  1. "Wealthy pet owners may take their pets today."

  • Type: Independent

  1. "Because pet playgroups encourage socialization."

  • Type: Dependent (Dependent word: "Because")

  1. "Since veterinarians now treat animal obesity."

  • Type: Dependent (Dependent word: "Since")

  1. "Pets have been shown to lower their blood pressure."

  • Type: Independent

  1. "Even if some pets have been known to bite."

  • Type: Dependent (Dependent word: "Even if")

Sentence Structure Types

• DC, IC: Dependent clause followed by independent clause (requires a comma)

• ICDC: Independent clause followed by a dependent clause (no comma needed when reversed)

Fragment Identification and Correction

• Definition of a Fragment:

  • An incomplete idea or sentence that lacks an independent clause.

• Strategies for Fixing Fragments:

  1. Attach the fragment to a preceding or following sentence.

  2. Remove or change the dependent word in the fragment.

Recognizing Dependent Words

• List of common dependent words to memorize is essential for understanding sentence structures.

Prepositional Phrases

• Definition:

  • A group of words that begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.

• Example: "under the podium" and "at your desk"

• Note: Prepositional phrases alone do not form complete sentences.

Verbals

• Definition:

  • Word forms that resemble verbs, categorized as:

  • Gerunds: A verb ending in -ing acting as a noun.

  • Participles: Verb forms used as adjectives.

  • Infinitives: The base form of a verb preceded by "to."

• Importance:

  • Cannot serve as the sole verb in a sentence.

Examples of Verbals

• Example of a Gerund: "snapping"

• Examples of Infinitives: "to sleep, to dream"

• Note: Infinitives are structured as "to + verb."

Corrections for Phrase Fragments

• Steps to Fix:

  1. Attach the fragment to a related sentence.

  2. Extend the fragment into a complete sentence.

Misuse of Verbals in Sentences

• Example Situation: A character in a children’s movie incorrectly uses a gerund as a standalone verb, leading to grammatical inaccuracies.

• Importance of using complete verbs to prevent sentence fragments.

Examples of Sentence Fragments and Potential Fixes

• Fragment: "To lift the steel sections into place."

  • Correction: Connect to a complete sentence or expand it into a full sentence.

• Review of Common Fragment Types:

  • Missing a subject.

  • Missing a verb.

  • Combination of phrases and clauses.

Practice Assignment

• Utilize resources such as the Purdue OWL for additional support and exercises on identifying and correcting fragments.

Complex Sentences

• Definition: A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.

• Function: These sentences are used to show a relationship between ideas, indicating that one idea (the independent clause) is the main focus, while the other (the dependent clause) provides supplementary information such as time, cause, or condition.

Independent Clauses

• Definition: An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

• Characteristics:

  • It can stand alone as a simple sentence.

  • It does not require any additional context to make sense.

  • Example: "I will drink a hot cup of coffee."

Dependent Clauses

• Definition: A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.

• Subordinating Conjunctions: Dependent clauses often begin with words called subordinating conjunctions. Examples include:

  • $after$, $although$, $as$, $because$, $before$, $if$, $since$, $unless$, $until$, $when$, $whenever$, $whereas$, $while$.

• Relative Pronouns: Clauses can also be dependent if they start with $who$, $whom$, $whose$, $which$, or $that$.

Punctuation Rules for Complex Sentences

1. Dependent Clause First ($DC, IC$):

   • If the dependent clause starts the sentence, a comma must follow it.

   • Example: "Since it is cold, I will drink a hot cup of coffee."

2. Independent Clause First ($IC DC$):

   • If the independent clause starts the sentence, a comma is generally not necessary before the subordinating conjunction.

   • Example: "I will drink a hot cup of coffee since it is cold."

Identifying Clauses: Practice Analysis

Evaluating whether a group of words is independent or dependent requires checking for a subordinating word:

• "Americans adore pets." -> Independent (Complete thought).

• "Although high-end pet food is very expensive." -> Dependent (The word $although$ creates a need for more information).

• "When Monty needs the right cut." -> Dependent (The word $when$ makes it a fragment of a larger idea).

• "Because pet playgroups encourage socialization." -> Dependent (The word $because$ explains a reason but lacks the resulting action).

Sentence Fragments

• Definition: A fragment is an incomplete sentence. It may be missing a subject, a verb, or it may be a dependent clause left standing alone.

• Common Types of Fragments:

  • Dependent Clause Fragments: Starting a sentence with a subordinating conjunction but failing to attach an independent clause.

  • Phrase Fragments: Lacking a subject-verb relationship altogether (e.g., prepositional phrases or verbal phrases).

• Strategies for Correction:

  1. Attachment: Connect the fragment to an adjacent independent clause.

  2. Revision: Remove the subordinating word or add the missing subject/verb to make it a complete thought.

Prepositional Phrases

• Definition: A group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with a noun or pronoun (the object of the preposition).

• Examples: "under the podium," "at your desk," "through the mountains."

• Important Note: A prepositional phrase can never contain the subject or the main verb of a sentence. This is a common pitfall in identifying sentence structure.

Understanding Verbals

Verbals are words formed from verbs but functioning as other parts of speech. They cannot serve as the main verb of a sentence on their own.

1. Gerunds: Verb forms ending in $-ing$ that function as nouns.

   • Example: "Swimming is my favorite hobby."

2. Participles: Verb forms used as adjectives.

   • Present Participles: End in $-ing$ (e.g., "the barking dog").

   • Past Participles: Usually end in $-ed$, $-en$, $-d$, $-t$, or $-n$ (e.g., "the broken glass").

3. Infinitives: The base form of a verb preceded by $to$ ($\text{to + verb}$).

   • Example: "To sleep late is a luxury."

Correcting Verbal Fragments

• Fragment: "To lift the steel sections into place."

• Correction via Expansion: "The workers used a crane to lift the steel sections into place."

• Correction via Attachment: "They arrived early, to lift the steel sections into place before the wind picked up."

Comprehensive Practice Tips

• To master these concepts, utilize resources like the Purdue OWL for exercises on fragment correction and subordinating conjunction usage.

• Consistent practice in identifying "subordinating words" is the most effective way to avoid unintentional fragments and ensure sentence variety.