Sentence Structures
Today I will revise the different types of sentences and I will be using a variety of sentence structures in my writing.
Why is it important to use a variety of sentence structures in your writing?
Sentence Structures
Minor sentence
Very short sentence
Understand? Wow! Terrifying!
Simple sentence
Contains only one piece of information
Billy was seventeen years old.
She seemed terribly nice.
Minor or simple?
Amazing!
It was Sunday.
The dog growled quietly.
Silence.
They were late.
and, but, or, so
He crossed the room slowly and he sat down on the edge of the sofa.
The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds and he didn’t care much for it.
Wait!
Hello.
It took ages.
She wore a white dress and she carried her shoes.
He slept peacefully.
Compound, Minor or Simple?
Complex sentence
Contains a main clause and a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause is separated by a comma and does not makes sense on its own
Which clause doesn’t make sense?
At the end of a long day the moon is shining brightly in the sky.
The moon is shining brightly in the sky at the end of a long day.
The moon at the end of a long day is shining brightly in the sky.
To get a C grade or above, you must place your commas correctly in your complex sentences! Can you work out where the comma needs to go?
Finished? Can you add in or change some describing words to make the image more vivid?
Main clause + subordinate clause
Subordinate clause + main clause
Main clause + Subordinate clause + main clause
Complex Sentences
=
at the end of a long day
the moon is shining brightly in the sky
Task:
Using either the main clause or the subordinate clause, create all three different types of complex sentences.
Extension: Create two more complex sentences using by making up your own clauses.
Using these key words (to create a subordinate clause) write a complex sentence for each starting with the key word. Use the picture for inspiration
During
After
Having
Feeling
Finished? Can you write some more using other “ing” words?
Destruction! Devastation! Death! That was all I could see around me. Feeling my heart pounding, I peeked out of my underground shelter. Smoke filled my lungs. I could smell the misery in the polluted air. Before I …
Finish the description below. You MUST USE:
Capital letters & full stops
Paragraphs
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Minor
Compound
Complex sentences & commas
D
C+
Plenary
C + grade
Homework