Sentence Building Blocks
Inst. Assist. Sarab AL-Akraa

Sentence Building Blocks:
(Really! Just 3!)
independent clause
dependent clause
phrase
if you want to
succeed.
Writing correct sentences
is a necessary skill
in school
and in life.

Sentence Building Blocks:
#1 – Independent Clause
independent clause
is a sentence by itself (simple sentence)
indep clause , fanboys indep clause =
compound sentence
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill.
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill it is a skill that requires practice.
,and

Sentence Building Blocks:
#2 – Dependent Clause
independent clause +
complex sentence
dependent clause only =
fragment
dependent clause =
if one wants to succeed..
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill
if you want to succeed..
X

if one wants to succeed.
Sentence Building Blocks
#3 - Phrases
 Phrase
 does not have S+V
 can attach to any type of sentence
 adds information to the sentence about time, place…
 Prepositional phrase: in my family, on Saturdays,
from 9 to 5, during the storm, around my
neighborhood, with my class, etc.
 Verbal phrase: after finishing class, to graduate in
two years
in school and in life.
in school and
in life.
Writing correct sentences is a necessary skill

4 Kinds of Sentences
Independent clauses and dependent clauses combine
to form simple, compound and complex sentences.
(Phrases can be in any kind of sentence.)
 1) Simple = 1 independent clause
 Working full time makes it hard to study full time.
S V
 Winona sings and plays the guitar very well.
S V V
 2)Compound = 2 independent clauses connected by
,fanboys or ;conj adverb, or ;
 Winona plays guitar well , but she cannot read music.
S V ; however, S V
;

4 Kinds of Sentences
2) compound sentences
indep clause , for indep clause.
, and
, nor
, but (; however,)
, or
, yet
, so (; therefore, )
Miami and Orlando are both major cities, but Miami is more exciting.
; however,

4 Kinds of Sentences
 3) Complex = dep clause + indep clause
 Dep clause , indep. clause.
If I had enough money, I would buy an old farmhouse in Spain.
 Indep. clause dep. clause.
I would buy an old farmhouse in Spain if I had enough money.
Dep clauses always start with a subordinator:
 Time: After … , Before … , Since… , Until… , When… , While… ,
 Contrast: Although … , Even though … , Whereas … , While… ,
 Cause & Effect: Because … , Since … , As … ,
 Condition: If … , Unless … ,