Sentence Fluency

Sentence Fluency What is Sentence Fluency? A writer’s combination of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences A writer’s control of flow and tempo

What is a simple sentence? • A stand-alone independent clause without any dependent clauses.

Sample SIMPLE Sentences Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #1: 9/11 was a dark day. Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #2: NYPD and NYFD are important. Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #3: Planes hit both the north and south towers. Independent Clause / Simple Sentence #4: A small, scared boy ran from the buildings. (Notice how sentence #2 has compound subjects and sentence #3 has compound predicates.)

Complex Sentences • What is a complex sentence? • a sentence with an independent clause AND one or more dependent clauses • Grammar Rule: When the dependent clause comes at the beginning of the sentence it ends with a comma (this is not the case at the end of the sentence).

Sample COMPLEX Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #1 complex: Independent Clause: 9/11 will always be a focal point + Dependent Clause: when people talk about important American events = Complex Sentence: 9/11 will always be a focal point when people talk about important American events. OR When people talk about important American events, 9/11 will always be a focal point.

Sample COMPLEX Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #2 complex: Independent Clause: My brother and I plan on honoring those troops who have fallen. + Dependent Clause: after the war on terror ends = Complex Sentence: My brother and I plan on honoring those troops who have fallen after the war on terror ends. OR After the war on terror ends, my brother and I plan on honoring those troops who have fallen.

Compound • What is a compound sentence? • A compound sentence is a sentence with two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction

Sample COMPOUND Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #1 compound: Independent Clause: The events of 9/11 sent shockwaves through America. + Coordinating Conjunction: but + Independent Clause: it is an event that has brought about a new age of patriotism. = Compound Sentence: The events of 9/11 sent shockwaves through America, but it is an event that has brought about a new age of patriotism.

Sample COMPOUND Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #2 compound: Independent Clause: The president’s speech was moving and invigorating. + Coordinating Conjunction: so + Independent Clause: I have decided I am going to donate money to the 9/11 relief fund. = Compound Sentence: The president’s speech was moving and invigorating, so I have decided I am going to donate money to the 9/11 relief fund.

Compound-Complex • What is a compound-complex sentence? • A compound-complex sentence is a sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

Sample COMPOUND-Complex Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #1 compound-complex: Independent Clause: The events of 9/11 sent shockwaves through America. + Coordinating Conjunction: but + Independent Clause: it is an event that has brought about a new age of patriotism. + bringing American citizens together and united as one = Compound Sentence: The events of 9/11 sent shockwaves through America, but it is an event that has brought about a new age of patriotism, bringing citizens together and united as one.

Sample COMPOUND-COMPLEX Sentences Here’s how you make simple sentence #2 compound-complex: Independent Clause: The president’s speech was moving and invigorating. + Coordinating Conjunction: so + Independent Clause: I have decided I am going to donate money to the 9/11 relief fund. + adding every spare penny from my lunch, my car, and my sofa = Compound-Complex Sentence: The president’s speech was moving and invigorating, so I have decided I am going to donate money to the 9/11 relief fund, adding every penny from my lunch, my car, and my sofa.

Practice What type of sentences are these? 1. Cody and Kait bought party supplies at the mall. 2. Cody hung colorful streamers from the ceiling, and Kait set party favors on the tables. 3. When they finished their work, they complimented each other on the results. 4. Cody waited for just the right moment to ask Kait to go to the banquet with him, and she promptly accepted his invitation, adding that she had been planning to ask him the same thing.

Practice What type of sentences are these? 5. Cody took Kait home to get ready for the banquet, but his car broke down along the way. 6. Kait began crying since they were in the middle of nowhere. 7. Cody knew everything would work out fine, especially since he had the tow company on speed dial, and they were back home within the next half hour with plenty of time to get ready. 8. Cody and Kait were the best dressed couple there.

How do I know if I have sentence fluency? 1. You use concise language and simple sentences to speed your writing up; to be dramatic; to hook your reader

2. You use complex sentences to expand on your ideas and make your writing flow

3. You use compound sentences to compare; to explain in depth; to go into extreme detail

Sentence Fluency