TALA HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

IN ENGLISH 10

Name:__________________________________________ Section:____________________________

KINDS OF SENTENCES ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE

1.Simple Sentence Structure

A simple sentence consists of one independent clause. (An independent clause contains a subject and verb and
expresses a complete thought.)
Examples: I like coffee. Mary likes tea. The earth goes round the sun. Mary did not go to the party.

2. Compound Sentence Structure

A compound sentence is two (or more) independent clauses joined by a conjunction or semicolon. Each of these
clauses could form a sentence alone.
Examples: I like coffee and Mary likes tea. Mary went to work but John went to the party.
Our car broke down; we came last.

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

3. Complex Sentence Structure

A complex sentence consists of an independent clause plus a dependent clause. (A dependent clause starts with a
subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, and contains a subject and verb, but does not express a complete
thought.)
Examples: We missed our plane because we were late.
Our dog barks when she hears a noise.
He left in a hurry after he got a phone call.
Do you know the man who is talking to Mary?

Here are some common subordinating conjunctions: after, although, as, because, before, how, if, once, since, then,
that, though, till, until, when, where, whether, while

Here are the five basic relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, whose

4. Compound-Complex Sentence Structure

A compound-complex sentence consists of at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Examples: John didn't come because he was ill so Mary was not happy.
He left in a hurry after he got a phone call but he came back five minutes later.
 Simple Sentence Structure

Activity I. Read each of the following simple sentences. Then, identify the subjects and verbs.

Example: Throughout history, people have invented and used a variety of weapon.
Answers: people-subject; have invented, used-verbs

1. As protection from such weapons, warriors in battle needed special equipment.

2. Some warriors used shields of wood or animal hides.
3. In ancient Assyria, soldiers wore leather armor with bronze reinforcements.
4. By 1800 B.C., the Greeks had made the first metal armor out of bronze.
5. Later, the Romans manufactured strong iron armor and designed special equipment, such as shin guards.
6. Before and during the Middle Ages, European knights and foot soldiers often dressed in shirts of chain mail.
7. You can see the tiny steel links of the chains in this picture.
8. In comparison with chain mail, suits of steel armor gave
better protection and therefore became more popular.
9. Helmets and shoulder pieces like these protected a knight's head and neck.
10. Over his legs and feet, a knight wore greaves and solleret into battle.

Compound Sentence Structure

Activity II. Each of the following sentences is a compound sentence. Identify the subject and the verb in each of the
independent clauses in each sentence. Then, give any punctuation marks, coordinating conjunctions, or conjunctive
adverbs that join the independent clauses.

EXAMPLE 1. Many strange things happen backstage during a performance, but the audience usually does not know
about them. Answers: 1. things-subject; happen-verb; audience-subject; does know-verb; comma + but

1. The director of a theater-in-the-round visited our class, and we listened to his stories for almost an hour.
2. According to him, the workers in charge of properties are usually alert and careful; however, they still make mistakes
sometimes.
3. For example, in one production of Romeo and Juliet, the character Juliet prepared to kill herself with a dagger, but
no dagger was on the stage.
4. Audiences at theaters-in-the-round can also be a problem, for they sit very close to the stage.
5. Members of the audience often set things on stage tables, or they hang their coats on the actors' coat racks.
6. Sometimes these actions are overlooked by the stagehands, and the results can be very challenging for the actors.
7. For example, the main clue in one mystery play was a scarf on the stage floor, but the audience had gathered on the
stage during intermission.
8. After the intermission, the detective in the play found two scarves instead of one, yet he could not show any surprise.
9. During another mystery drama, a spectator became too involved
in the play; he leaped up on the stage and tackled the villain.
10. Directors cannot always predict the reactions of the audience, nor can they always control the audience.

Identifying Simple Sentences and Compound Sentences

Activity III. Identify each subject and verb in the following sentences. Then, tell whether the sentence is a simple sentence
or a compound sentence.

EXAMPLES 1. African American actors and actresses performed in many early Hollywood movies.
Answer 1: actors, actresses-subjects; performed-verb; simple sentence
2. Hattie McDaniel, for example, made many films, and she is best known for her role in Gone with the Wind.
Answer 2: Hattie McDaniel-subject; made-verb; she-subject; is known-verb; compound sentence

1. Over the years, African American performers have earned much acclaim and won a number of Academy Awards.
2. Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar for her role in Gone with the Wind in 1939.
3. Sidney Poitier acted in stage plays and made several movies early in his career.
4. Poi tier won an Oscar in 1963 for Lilies of the Field, and he later made many other popular films.
5. McDaniel and Poi tier were the first African Americans to receive Academy Awards.
6. More recently, Lou Gossett, Jr., and Denzel Washington played supporting roles as military men and won Academy
Awards for their performances.
7. Another winner, Whoopi Goldberg, first gained fame as a stand-up comic; then she made several hit movies.
8. Critics praised her performance in The Color Purple, and in 1991, she won an Academy Award for her role in Ghost.
9. The Tuskegee Airmen, a film about African American fighter pilots during WWII, and As Good As It Gets brought Cuba
Gooding, Jr., much attention.
10. In 1996, Gooding was nominated for an Oscar for a role as a professional football player, and he won the award for best
supporting actor.

Identifying Independent Clauses and Subordinate Clauses in Complex Sentences

Activity IV. Identify each of the clauses in the following sentences as independent or subordinate. Be prepared to give the
subject and the verb of each clause. [Hint: A sentence may have more than one subordinate clause.]

EXAMPLES 1. China, which has a population of more than one billion people, is a largely agricultural country.
Answer 1: China is a largely agricultural country-independent; which has a population of more than one
billion people-subordinate
2. Although it was nearly worthless, my brother bought one of those old coins for his collection.
Answer 2: Although it was nearly worthless-subordinate; my brother bought one of those old coins for his
collection-independent

1. The detective show appeared on television for several weeks before it became popular with viewers.
2. Most of the albums that my parents have from the 1970s are sitting in the corner of the basement behind the broken
refrigerator.
3. Richard E. Byrd is but one of the explorers who traveled to Antarctica.
4. As studies continued, many important facts about nutrition
were discovered.
5. A group of popular singers, who donated their time, recorded a song that made people aware of a famine in Ethiopia.
6. The Hawaiian ruler who wrote the famous song ''Aloha Oe" (''Farewell to Thee") was Queen Liliuokalani.
7. After we finish our report on the history of computers, we may go to the basketball game.
8. Although few students or teachers knew about it, a group of sociologists visited our school to study the relationship
between classroom environment and students' grades.
9. While the stage crew was constructing the sets, the performers continued their rehearsal, which went on into the night.
10. Although she had polio as a child, Wilma Rudolph became a top American Olympic athlete.

Identifying Clauses in Compound-Complex Sentences

Activity V. Identify each of the clauses in the following sentences as independent or subordinate.
EXAMPLE 1. When they returned from their vacation, they collected their mail at the post office, and they
went to the supermarket.
Answer 1: When they returned from their vacation-subordinate; they collected their mail at the
post office-independent; they went to the supermarket-independent

1. Before we conducted the experiment, we asked for permission to use the science lab, but the principal insisted on
teacher supervision of our work.
2. Inside the old trunk in the attic, which is filled with boxes and toys, we found some dusty photo albums; and one of
them contained pictures from the early 1900s.
3. We told them that their plan wouldn't work, but they wouldn't listen to us.
4. Every expedition that had attempted to explore that region had vanished without a trace, yet the young adventurer was
determined to map the uncharted jungle because he couldn't resist the challenge.
5. The smoke, which steadily grew thicker and darker, billowed through the dry forest; the animals ran ahead of the fire as
it spread quickly.
6. Our new neighbors, who moved in last month, have painted their house, and the children have put up a basketball hoop.
7. Because Traci, Sheila, and Tomas like to compete, they swim laps in the pool in the park, and they keep a chart of who
wins each time.
8. We bought tortillas, cheese, tomatoes, and onions; and Ernesto made enchiladas, which everyone enjoyed.
9. Gabriel and Daniel earned the money that they wanted for new bikes, but then they put the money into their savings
accounts instead.
10. I was glad that the school bus came early the day of the science fair; I needed extra time at school to set up my exhibit.

Identifying the Four Kinds of Sentence Structure

Activity VI. Identify each of the following sentences as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
EXAMPLE 1. If she had not practiced, my cousin Sheila could not have become a good skater.
Answer 1: Complex

1. People who are learning a new sport begin by mastering basic skills.
2. After people have practiced basic skills for a while, they can progress to more difficult moves.
3. At this point a beginner may become discouraged, and the temptation to quit grows strong.
4. One of the most common problems that beginners face is lack of coordination; another is muscular aches and pains.
5. A beginner who is not careful can injure muscles, yet strenuous activity usually strengthens the muscle tissues.
6. When enough oxygen reaches the warmed-up muscles, the danger of injury lessens, and the muscles grow in size.
7. At the same time, coordination grows with confidence.
8. The hours of practice that a beginner puts in usually result in rewarding improvements.
9. As a rule, learning something new takes time and work, or it will not seem worthwhile.
10. In sports, as in most other activities, persistence and patience often pay off.

Writing a Variety of Sentence Structures

Activity VII. Write your own original sentences according to the following instructions.

EXAMPLE 1. Write a compound sentence with two independent clauses joined by a comma and and.
Answer 1: My mother usually serves us spaghetti for supper once a week, and she makes the best spaghetti
in the world.

1. Write a simple sentence with a compound subject.

2. Write a simple sentence with a compound verb.
3. Write a compound sentence with two independent clauses joined by a comma and but.
4. Write a compound sentence with two independent clauses joined by a comma and or.
5. Write a compound sentence with two independent clauses joined by a semicolon.
6. Write a complex sentence with one subordinate clause.
7. Write a complex sentence with two subordinate clauses.
8. Write a complex sentence with a subordinate clause at the beginning of the sentence.
9. Write a complex sentence with a subordinate clause at the end of the sentence.
10. Write a compound-complex sentence.