<p> Sentence Structure</p><p>In fourth grade, we focus on three types of sentences: simple, compound, and complex.</p><p>1. Simple sentence </p><p>Every sentence has two parts: a subject and a predicate</p><p>A sentence expresses a complete thought. </p><p>Example: The dog ran quickly. </p><p> subject predicate(verb) subject predicate(verb)</p><p>The subject can be compound: The boys and the girls arrived early. The predicate (verb) can be compound. The boys raked and cleaned the yard. subject predicate (verb)</p><p>2. Compound sentence</p><p>Two complete sentences joined with comma + a conjunction (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) In fourth grade, we will focus on four of these: SOBA (so, or, but, and).</p><p>Example: Comma then conjunction</p><p>Sentence 1 sentence 2 The dog ran quickly, and then it stopped suddenly.</p><p>Notice the pattern of this sentence above:</p><p>Sentence, conjunction sentence. </p><p>Note the punctuation and capitalization of the above sentence. To understand the third type of sentence, you must understand the difference between phrases and clauses. If a group of words contains both a subject and a verb, that group of words is a clause. If the group of words does not have both a subject and a verb, that group of words is a phrase.</p><p>We threw the ball. Because this group contains both a subject and a verb, this group of words is a clause. subject verb</p><p>Against the wall Because this group does not contain both a subject and a verb, this group of words is a phrase.</p><p>There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent Independent clauses can stand alone as sentence. Another name for a single independent clause is a simple sentence. </p><p>When two independent clauses (or simple sentences) are joined together with a comma and a conjunction, a compound sentence is created. </p><p>3. Complex sentences Although a dependent clause contains both a subject and a verb, it cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought. It is dependent on something else to make a complete thought. It needs to be joined with an independent clause. When this happens, a complex sentence is created. Example: After we go to lunch </p><p> subject verb</p><p>What will happen after we go to lunch? This is not a complete thought. Notice the subject and the verb. Also notice that this clause starts with a special type of conjunction called a subordinating conjunction. (Not any of the FANBOYS). There is a large list of subordinating conjunctions, but in Fourth grade we will focus on a few of these: AAAWWUBBIS- After,Although,As,When,While,Until,Before,Because, If, Since</p><p>To make a complete thought, a dependent clause must be attached to an independent clause. </p><p>After we go to lunch, we go to recess.</p><p> subordinating subject verb subject verb conjunction Remember dependent clauses start with subordinating conjunctions: (AAAWWUBBIS) After,Although,As,When,While,Until,Before,Because, If, Since</p><p>The dependent clause can be at the beginning of the sentence or at the end.</p><p>When an AAAWWUBBIS is at the beginning of a sentence, it must be followed by a comma. When it is at the end of the sentence, no comma is needed. Examples: While it was raining, I stayed indoors.</p><p>I stayed indoors while it was raining.</p><p>When you see AAAWWUBBIS words, look for a dependent clause. </p><p>Application: </p><p>To add variety to your sentences when writing, try starting a few of your sentences with an AAAWWBBUIS clause. </p><p>Be careful not to confuse a prepositional phrase for a dependent clause.</p><p>After lunch we will go to recess.</p><p>This sentence begins with one of the AAAWWUBBIS words, but “after lunch” does not contain a subject and a verb. With no subject and verb, this group of words is a prepositional phrase. </p>