Level Two Writing Supplement

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

In the following simple sentences, underline the subject with one line and the
verb with two lines.
1. We study at Universidad Del Norte.
Simple
2. Chemistry is my worst class.
Sentence
3. Sitting in Chemistry class gives me a headache.
= an independent clause +
4. My friends and I prefer playing football.
Independent
Perio
Clause
d
5. We are playing a match at 7:00 tonight.
We love our English
.
6. Call me after the game.
teacher
7. Can they return the books to the library tomorrow?
8. Doing a specialization in a foreign country is one of my future goals.
9. Who likes to watch English movies?
10. Here are the results of the final exam.
Sometimes it is more challenging to identify subjects and verbs. Here are some tips to
help you:
Usually the subject comes first and the verb comes second in a sentence.
However, sometimes the subject is after the verb:
There or here is never the subject of a sentence. Such sentences are usually in
inverted order. Reword them to find the subject. For example:
Sentences Beginning with There or Here
Reworded with Subjects Before Verbs
There are three students in class.
students are in the class.

Three

Here is your purse.

here.

Your purse is

Adapted from
http://www.warrenhills.org/cms/lib/NJ01001092/Centricity/ModuleInstance/1332/Sentences_beginning_with_HERE_and_THERE_p._53.
pdf.

In the following simple sentences, underline the subject with one line and the
verb with two lines. Then reword the sentences with Subjects before verbs.
1. There are two ducks on the pond this morning.
___________________________________________
2. Here is the recipe.
______________________________________________
3. Here comes our new principal.
_________________________________________________
4. There were no upsets in this election.
_________________________________________________
5. There could be a storm tomorrow.
_________________________________________________

6. Here is a picture of the animal with its

young._____________________________________________
7. There are some beautiful flowers growing in the field.
______________________________________
8. Here is your father now.
________________________________________________
9. Here was a great civilization.
______
___________________________________________
10. There will be no more flights to Chicago today.
___________________________________________

Review of Simple and Compound Sentences

Determine whether the following sentence is a simple sentence (SS) or a
compound sentence (CS).
1. Our family loves Thai food, and we order it once a week.
2. Allen is injured, so Will is playing tonight.
3. I ordered a cheeseburger and small fries.
4. Eleanor and Pauline will meet us at the concert.
5. Amber ran around the track and swam several laps after practice.
6. Kimberly drove to the store, and she bought some bread.
7. He missed several answers on his test, but he made corrections to it.
8. Only one cookie remained on the plate, so Aimee did not eat it.
9. The children and their parents sang and danced around the flag pole.
10. Guillermo threw the football over the fence and into the neighbors yard.
You might already know how to connect two simple sentences using a comma (,)
and a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, so, and or). This new sentence is called a compound sentence.
Co
mpound Sentence
= an independent clause + a comma + a coordinating conjunction + an
independent clause + a period
Indepen
Coordina
Indepen
Com
Perio
dent
ting
dent
ma
d
Clau
Conjunct
Clau
Taxis are
,
so
I prefer to
take a bus
.
expensive
This semester has been
,
bu
Im enjoying it
.
dificult
t
*Im taking extra
,
an
Im also on the football
.
English
classes
d
team
We can go out for
,
or
I can cook something
.
Lebanese food
at home
*Many writers choose not to use a comma before the coordinating
conjunction and.
There are three more coordinating conjunctions: for, yet, and nor. These are usually
only used in formal writing.

 Make compound sentences by connecting the following pairs of simple

sentences. Use a comma and add an appropriate coordinating conjunction.
Next, underline the subjects with one line and the complete verbs with two.
1.

Du Nord Plaza is cheaper. I prefer Cafe du Nord.

2.

My brothers name is Juan Carlos. My sisters name is Jennifer.

3.

It was raining heavily this morning. There were arroyos on Calle 76.

4.

Maybe she is studying engineering. Perhaps she is studying nursing.

5.

I like my English teacher. He is very, very strict and demanding.

Complex Sentences
You already know that an independent clause has a subject and a verb, and it
expresses a complete idea or thought. A dependent clause has a subject and a
verb, but it does not express a complete thought or idea. It is not a complete
sentence.
My brother is always tired. (independent clause = a complete
sentence)
X Because he works part-time and studies at Uninorte. (dependent clause
= not a complete sentence)
A dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause. You can use a
subordinating
conjunction
to
do
this.
A subordinating
conjunction is
a conjunction (a connecting word or phrase) that introduces a dependent clause,
joining it to a main clause. This type of sentence is called a complex sentence. Look
at the complex sentences below. What do you notice about punctuation and
capitalization in the following sentences?
Complex Sentence
(Option 1)
= an independent clause + a subordinating conjunction + a
a period
Independ dependent clause +Subordinating
ent
Conjunction with a
Perio
Claus
d
Dependent Clause
e a bus home after because its cheaper than
I take
.
class
taking
a
taxi
Julio and Adriana failed the exam last because they didnt study very
.
Saturday
much
Complex Sentence
(Option 2)
= a subordinating conjunction + a dependent clause + a comma + an
Subordinating
Independent
Conjunction with a
Clause
Com
ma
Dependent
Clause
Because its cheaper than taking
,
I take a bus home after class
a
taxi
Although Julio and Adriana
,
they failed the exam last Saturday
studied very much

Perio
d .
.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions: because, since, although, even though,

while, unless, as soon as, after, before, if, etc.
Complete the complex sentences with the most appropriate conjunction.

1 ________________ the teacher left the room, the students started to shout.
2. _______________ I have good grades in other subjects, I have problems to pass English.
3. You couldnt understand ____________ you didnt pay attention in class.
4. _______________ you study diligently, you'll never understand trigonometry.
5. _______________ we wait for the food, we can talk.

 Use subordinating conjunctions to connect the sentences and make one complex
sentence.
1. It was raining outside. We went for a walk.
2. Jenny asks me. I will buy it for her.
3. Franklin wants to get a new job. He is preparing for job interviews.
4. His wife doesn't like the house. Marvin will buy it.
5. Cindy and David had breakfast. They left for work.
6. I really enjoyed the concert. The music was too loud.
7. I usually work out at the gym early in the morning. I leave for work at eight a.m.
8. Bob didn't have much money. He bought am expensive car.
9. I prefer to watch TV by streaming over the internet. It allows me to watch what I want
when I want.
10. It rains a lot. I put the chairs on the patio in the garage.
Complete the complex sentences with your own ideas using a conjunction
1.
.

I chose to study

2.
.

Uninorte is a good university

3.
.

I love

4.
_.
5.

Visiting your doctor regularly is important

Many people feel that Carnaval is exciting

_.

6.
.
Now rewrite your complex sentences using the second style. Dont forget that you
need to use a comma if the subordinating conjunction because is used at the start of
the sentence.