Complex Sentence Lesson

Complex Sentence lesson!

Objective: Today we will learn how to construct a complex sentence.
Essential Question: What makes up a great complex sentence and how does it differ from simple and compound sentences?

Complex Sentences, what are they?

Compound Sentences are made up of a dependent clause (fragment), and an independent clause (simple sentence, can stand on it's own!)!

Like a compound sentence, it also has two clauses.
PATTERN 1: My cat threw up because she ate a hairball.


PATTERN 2: After I ate lunch, I was still hungry.

Can stand on their own! They are simple sentences if you were to put them on their own!
i.e. I went to my mother's house.

Independent Clauses

Dependent clauses are fragments and can't stand alone! They need another half to help them make sense.
i.e. When it rains...

Dependent Clauses

Complex Sentences!

​A clause is another part of a sentence. There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent clauses.

Complex Sentence Images:

​PATTERN 1:
AAAWWUBBIS word in the middle of the sentence, NO COMMA! (Independent clause AAAWWWUBBIS word Dependent clause).
i.e. We went to the store after we got our allowance.

PATTERN 2:
AAAWWUBBIS word to start the sentence, comma separates the Dependent from the Independent clause.
i.e. Although we went to the store, we couldn't afford anything.

What are they?

Complex Sentences!?

• Basketball Analogy: Just like a basketball player needs to pass the ball to score, a writer needs to connect ideas in a sentence to make it clear and interesting.

• Complex Sentences: Explain that complex sentences are like plays in basketball. They have two main parts (independent and dependent clauses) that work together to create a more complex idea.

• Many people say these are the gigachads of all the conjunctions.

• These are essential to making up complex sentences!

• Can anyone come up with a fragment now?
  

Subordinating Conjunctions!

Drag and Drop

Use these words on the left to fill in the blanks in the sentence below:

1.

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I was late, I was not put in the tardy sweep.

We were late to school ​
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we had a flat tire.

​
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my friend goes to the concert, I will go too!

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Although

because

If

Open Ended

What do you notice about the sentences below?

1. The rain never stopped while we looked out the window.

2. The students had low aura today until they found their sigma energy.

3. I went to see the Joker because I love chaos.

4. They ran away from the dirt man after they realized it was out to hurt them.

5. They left a little dirt under their pillow for the dirt man after they realized it would keep them safe.

Open Ended

Pattern 1 DOES NOT HAVE A COMMA! It contains an AAAWWUBBIS word IN BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES! Practice typing your own version below!

Open Ended

Pattern 2 is where you use the comma! It helps separate the dependent clause from the independent clause. The AAAWWUBBIS word should start the sentence in pattern 2.

i.e. After we left school, we fought at Little Ceasers.

i.e. 2: While we waited for our punishment, my friend began to worry about his mom.

I.e. 3: Until Kendrick plays the Super Bowl halftime show, Drake will live in fear.

PRACTICE WRITING YOUR OWN PATTERN 2 COMPLEX SENTENCE BELOW!!!

Drag and Drop

Identify which pattern each sentence is below:



​

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1. The students were afraid of the test until they passed it.

​
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Although the students were confused, they would eventually be ok.

​
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Before the students fought over pizza, they called each other names.

​
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He was told to get off the blue line because he couldn't follow directions.

​
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If the toilet doesn't skibidi, is it even a toilet?

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Pattern 1

Pattern 2

Multiple Choice

Which of the following options is the best example of a fragment (dependent clause)?

• Nobody wants your salad...

• Tacos are lettuce, tomatoes, ground beef, and cheese...

• I already ate dinner...

• Although he wanted to eat a cookie...

Multiple Choice

What is an example of pattern 2 of a complex sentence?

• The stapler was broken because the student tried to staple a book back together.

• If I eat Taki's, my tongue swells up and I can't breathe.

• The students were late to class when they made 3 laps in between class.

• McDonald's chicken nuggets are the best when they are 3 days old.

Multiple Choice

What is an example of pattern 1 of a complex sentence?

• When we went to the movies, we ordered popcorn with butter.

• If he doesn't give me back my pencil, I am going to steal his backpack.

• The students ran away because they were afraid of the cookie monster.

• As we left McDonalds, we realized they forgot our extra french fries.

Open Ended

Go ahead and practice writing pattern 1 of the complex sentences one more time! (No comma, AAAWWUBBIS word in the middle)

Open Ended

Go ahead and practice writing pattern 2 of the complex sentences one more time! (AAAWWUBBIS word at the start, comma before the independent clause).

Open Ended

Write a complex sentence, either pattern, about what's going on in this picture!

Poll

After today, rate your comfort level with complex sentences!

A 1 means you still are struggling to understand how they all work

A 2 means you kind of understand it.

A 3 means you could probably work through some sentences and fix some mistakes as you go.

A 4 means you could complete a quiz on this right now and be confident in your score!

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