English III
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Sentence Structure

There are two basic components in a sentence. Every sentence must have an independent clause, while many sentences also contain dependent clauses.

An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a sentence.

• I drove to the store on Thursday.
• We saw the magician perform tricks.
• I will not be able to provide you with those documents.

A dependent clause does not contain a subject and a verb and cannot stand alone.

• after the concert ended
• despite my objections
• who fought in Vietnam

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause.

• After the concert ended, we saw the magician perform tricks.
• He drove to the store on Thursday, despite my objections.
• Keith, who fought in Vietnam, stood up to the intruder.

Sentence Fragments are simply dependent clauses. They do not contain a subject and a verb. Do not assume that the length of a sentence indicates the structure of that sentence. Just because a sentence is long does not guarantee that it is complex. Consider the following:

The following are all dependent clauses (sentence fragments):

Over the river and through the woods, under the old tree that grandpa used to whittle when he was a young boy, and into the home of the Smith's as they baked their pies and sang songs in harmony while watching the television glare its mighty images into the brains and minds of the young children who would one day find themselves grown-up with their own lives and responsibilities. (no subject or verb)

Without a branch to rest upon, the young boy, who had only yesterday decided that running away from home would be a good idea -- for he had not thought through his decision and he now found himself deep within the woods without the usual comforts of home. (no verb)

Running home quickly and hiding under the covers, since fear was a factor that had propelled the trip home. (no subject)

Imagine that you have a handful of legos. You can combine them in many different ways, but only a few combinations will produce something that can stand along by itself. Sentences are very similar. There are multiple parts to a sentence, and combining the parts of a sentence in the wrong order will produce the wrong idea.

Sentence Components:

• independent clauses (idea)
• dependent clauses (idea)
• coordinating conjunctions (connector)
• conjunctive adverb (connector)
• punctuation (instructions)

There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet.

• It was cold outside, but we had already paid for the carriage ride.
• Two children went inside and played with blocks.
• I was nervous about my first day in college, yet I yearned for the new independence.

There are many different conjunctive adverbs: also, besides, consequently, finally, for example, furthermore, however, in addition, indeed, in fact, meanwhile, next, therefore.

• It was cold outside; however, we had already paid for the carriage ride.
• Two children went inside and played with blocks; in fact, two other children ate lunch.
• I will first unscrew the lid; next, I will add the detergent.

There are three basic punctuation marks that writers use to create complex sentences: the period (of course), the comma, and the semicolon.

• A period always goes at the end of a sentence.
• A comma is always used to combine two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction.
• A semicolon and a comma are used to combine two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb.

The following essay is a response to Patrick Henry's famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech. Please identify and mark the following as directed:

underline all independent clauses once and record the number of ind. clauses here ______

underline all dependent clauses twice and record the number of dep. clauses here ______

circle all coordinating conjunctions and record the number of coord. conj. here ______

square all conjunctive adverbs and record the number of conj. adverbs here ______

______________________________________________________________________________

PERMIT me to make a few observations on this great question. It is with great difficulty I prevail on myself to enter into the debate, when I consider the great abilities of those gentlemen who have already spoken on the subject. But as I am urged by my duty to my constituents, and as I conceive that the different manner of treating the subject may make different impressions, I shall offer my observations with diffident respect, but with firmness and independence. I will promise my acknowledgments to those honorable gentlemen who were in the Federal Convention, for the able and satisfactory manner in which they discharged their duty to their country. The introductory expression of "We, the people," has been thought improper by the honorable gentleman. I expected no such objection as this. Ought not the people, sir, to judge of that government whereby they are to be ruled? We are, sir, deliberating on a question of great consequence to the people of America, and to the world in general. We ought, therefore, to decide with extreme caution and circumspection; it is incumbent upon us to proceed without prejudice or prepossession. No member of the committee entertains a greater regard than myself for the gentleman on the other side, who has placed himself in the front of opposition. [Mr. Henry.] No man admires more than I do his declamatory talents; but I trust that neither declamation nor elegance of periods will mislead the judgment of any member here, and that nothing but the force of reasoning will operate conviction. He has asked, with an air of triumph, whether the Confederation was not adequate to the purposes of the Federal Government. Permit me to say, No. If, sir, perfection existed in that system, why was the Federal Convention called? Why did every State except Rhode Island send deputies to that convention?

Was it not from a persuasion of its inefficacy? If this be not sufficient to convince him, let me call the recollection of the honorable gentleman to other circumstances. Let him go into the interior parts of the country and inquire into the situation of the farmers. He will be told that tobacco and other produce are miserably low, merchandise dear, and taxes high. Let him go through the United States. He will perceive appearances of ruin and decay everywhere. Let him visit the seacoast - go to our ports and inlets. In those ports, sir, where we had every reason to see the fleets of all nations, he will behold but a few trifling little boats; he will everywhere see commerce languish, the disconsolate merchant, with his arms folded, ruminating, in despair, on the wretched ruins of his fortune, and deploring the impossibility of retrieving it. The West Indies are blocked up against us. Not the British only, but other nations, exclude us from those islands: our fur trade has gone to Canada; British sentinels are within our own territories; our imposts are withheld. To these distresses we may add the derangement of our finances; yet the honorable gentleman tells us they are not sufficient to justify so radical a change. Does he know the consequences of deranged finances? What confusions, disorders, and even revolutions, have resulted from this cause, in many nations! Look at France at this time: that kingdom is almost convulsed; ministers of state, and first princes of the blood, banished; manufacturers and merchants become bankrupt, and the people discontented - all owing to the derangement of their finances.

The honorable gentleman must be well acquainted with the debts due by the United States, and how much is due to foreign nations. Has not the payment of these been shamefully withheld? How long, sir, shall we be able, by fair promises, to satisfy these creditors? How long can we amuse,by idle words, those who are amply possessed of the means of doing themselves justice? No part of the principal is paid to those nations, nor has even the interest been paid as honorably and punctually as it ought. Nay, we were obliged to borrow money last year to pay the interest. What! borrow money to discharge the interest of what was borrowed, and continually augment the amount of the public debt! Such a plan would destroy the richest country on earth. What is to be done? Compel the delinquent States to pay requisitions to Congress? Compel the delinquent States to pay requisitions to Congress? How are they to be compelled? By the instrumentality of such a scheme as was proposed to be introduced in the year 1784? Is this cruel mode of compulsion eligible? Is it consistent with the spirit of republicanism? This savage mode, which could be made use of under the Confederation, leads directly to civil war and destruction.

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