Sentences

What should a sentence look like?

· Begins with a capital letter

· Ends with proper punctuation

· Incorporates proper internal punctuation

· Expresses a complete thought

A simple sentence contains a simple subject and a simple predicate. This is also called an independent clause.

Example of a simple sentence:

(independent clause)

Mary had a little lamb.

Compound sentences are two simple sentences joined with a comma and a conjunction.

Example of a compound sentence:

(independent clause) (independent clause)

Mary had a little lamb, and she loved it very much.

Complex sentences are made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause cannot stand alone.

Example of a complex sentence:

(independent clause) (dependent clause)

The lamb followed Mary to school after she fed it.

Or

(dependent clause) (independent clause)

After she fed it, the lamb followed Mary to school.