Types of Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex
with Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions
Simple Sentences
My dad is nice. My favorite color is blue. I wish I had a dog.
Lexi and Damiah walked to school.
Lexi and Damiah walked to school.
I like bananas. I like apples. I like pears. (add a conjunction) I like bananas, apples, and pears.
Compound Sentences (2 complete thoughts)
Change Simple Sentences to Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions
The pioneers were sitting under the tree. It had been a long day's journey.
I went to the park. I saw a dog. The boy refuses to eat green beans. He will not touch peas. I like fruits. I do not like vegetables. Would you like to watch Finding Nemo? Would you like to watch Shark Tale? Kamari plays basketball. His favorite sport is wrestling. Reid's mom took him to school. I did not see him on the bus. |
for
and nor but or yet so |
The pioneers were sitting under the tree, for it had been a long day's journey.
I went to the park, and I saw a dog. The boy refuses to eat green beans, nor will he touch peas. I like fruits, but I do not like vegetables. Would you like to watch Finding Nemo or Shark Tale? Kamari plays basketball, yet his favorite sport is wrestling. Reid's mom took him to school, so I did not see him on the bus. |
Complex Sentences
Add subordinating conjunctions to sentences to add more detail. This also helps vary the beginning of sentences so all the sentences do not start with "I."
after
although as because before even though if once since unless until when whenever wherever while |
After cleaning my room, I went to my friend's house to play video games.
I went to my friend's house to play video games after cleaning my room. Although I did not want to do it, I did my chores and took the trash outside. I did my chores and took the trash outside although I did not want to do it. As soon as I got home from camp, I took a hot shower. I took a hot shower as soon as I got home from camp. Because Mrs. Rizzo was sick, she did not come to the carnival. Mrs. Rizzo did not come to the carnival because she was sick. Before buying the shoes, Demetrius needed to try them on. Demetrius needed to try on the new shoes on before buying them. Even though I passed the test, I wasn't happy with my score. I wasn't happy with my score even though I passed the test. If I do my chores, my mom says I can go to the birthday party. My mom says I can go to the birthday party if I do my chores. Once you learn you skip counting sequences, you can start to multiply. You can start to multiply once you learn your skip counting sequences. Since he was tired, he went straight to bed. He went straight to bed since he was tired. Unless it stops raining, I have to stay inside and play board games. I have to stay inside and play board games unless it stops raining. Until we install a fence, the dog has to stay on a leash. The dog has to stay on a leash until we install a fence. When I play soccer, I have a great time. I have a great time when I play soccer. Whenever my step-son takes a shower, he leaves his towels all over the floor. My step-son leaves his towels all over the floor whenever he takes a shower. Wherever the little girl goes, she takes her favorite teddy bear. The little girl takes her favorite teddy bear wherever she goes. While he waited for the bus, Leon realized he left his homework on the counter. Leon realized he left his homework on the counter while he waited for the bus. |
Elaborating Sentences
Another way to elaborate and add more detail to sentences
I went shopping.
I went shopping at the mall. (add where)
I went shopping at the mall for a new bathing suit. (add what)
Last week, I went shopping at the mall for a new bathing suit. (add when)
Last week, I went shopping at the Polaris mall for a new, green bathing suit. (add specifics)
A different way to elaborate and add more detail to sentences.
Describing word (adjective)
|
Who or what? (noun)
|
Did what? (verb)
|
Where?
|
When?
|
The gigantic dog growled fiercely at the gate when my brother and I passed by last night.
(When)
Last night, . . . Yesterday, . . . . Last summer, . . . |
(Where)
At my house |
Does your sentence have enough details? Did you include the following?
Who? Why? How many? Where?
When? How did it happen? What color? How did you feel?
When? How did it happen? What color? How did you feel?