Sentence variety adds interest to your writing, and some kinds of sentences require a comma.
Let's look at the different kinds of sentences.
Simple Sentences (independent clause)
A simple sentence contains at least one subject and one predicate
Jaydenbrought his basketball to recess.
Simple Sentences with a Compound Subject
A simple sentence may have more than one subject.
The chicks and the mother hen searched the barnyard for bugs.
Simple Sentence with a Compound Predicate
A simple sentence may have more than one predicate.
The chick scratched and pecked at a worm.
Compound Sentence (two independent clauses)
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses (simple sentences) joined by a coordinating conjunction and uses a comma.
The mother bird sat on the nest, and the baby birds chirped for food.
Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains an independent clause (simple sentence) and a dependent clause (a group of words that is not a complete thought and can’t stand alone) linked by a subordinating conjunction. A subordinating conjunction is a word that links an independent clause and a dependent clause.
Because we missed our bus, we were late to school. *Because is the subordinating conjunction.
We were late to school because we missed the bus. *Because is the subordinating conjunction.
Notice a comma is needed if the dependent clause comes FIRST in a complex sentence. A comma is NOT needed if the dependent clause comes at the end of a complex sentence.
Scavenger Hunt
In Your Journal:Cut and paste this chart. Then, use your books, books in your classroom library, or writings in your journal. Take about 15 minutes to find examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences. You may use fiction or nonfiction books. Don’t forget to include the title and author of the book or if the sentence is from your writing.
Scavenger Hunt