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WE have been focusing our discussions on English Language Paper 1 Section A. Precisely we have been working on different types of compositions. Now let us jump to grammar. This is Paper 1 Section B and it comes out every year.
We are doing: Simple, Compound and Complex sentences.
Think of sentences like houses. The 3 types explained with “Kitchen examples”. Simple sentence = 1 House, 1 Family. Rule 1 Independent clause = 1 Subject + 1 Verb + 1 Complete idea.
It can be short or long, but it only has 1 main action. Formula: S + V. S for subject. V for Verb. Examples: The girls cooked sadza. Steam fogged the kitchen window at supper time. Key: Only 1 verb group. No joining words like and/but/because.
2. Compound sentence =2 Houses, joined by a bridge. Rule 2 Independent clauses joined together. Both can stand alone. Joining words: Fan boys = For, And, Not, But, Or, Yet, So Formula: 1C + FANBOYS + IC or 1C: 1C.
Examples: The girls cooked sadza and the boys set the table. Clause 1: The girls cooked sadza. Clause 2 The boys set the table. Both make sense alone. 2 I was hungry; therefore, I ate two plates.
Key: 2 full ideas. Use a comma + Fan Boys.
3. Complex sentence =Main House + Small Shed Attached. Rule: 1 Independent Clause + Dependent Clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone. It needs the main house.
Joining words: Because, Since, When, While, If, Although, After, Before. Formula 1C +Because/When/IF +DC.
Examples: The girls cooked sadza because it was supper time. DC: because it was supper time – cannot stand alone. When the bell rang, the students ran to the kitchen.
Key: 1 main idea + 1 extra idea that depends on it. Public examination quick test/6. Label each as S, Cpd, or Cpx.1. The teacher entered and the class became quiet. 2. Although it was raining, we played football. 3. My mother baked bread.
Answers; 1. Cpd. 2. Cpx.3. S. Rules to remember under the following headlines. Type how many clauses Can stand alone. Simple sentence = 1 clause Can stand alone –yes. Compound has 2 clauses.
Both clauses can stand alone –yes+ yes. Complex sentence has 2 clauses. Can stand alone –Yes + No.
Examination Tip: The public examination loves asking: Join these simple sentences to make a compound/complex sentence. Change this to a compound using but: The kitchen was hot. The food smelled good. The answer is: The kitchen was hot but the food smelled good. This is a compound sentence and 100% correct.
Why it is compound: 1. Clause 1: The kitchen was hot- Can stand alone. 2. Clause 2: the food smelled good- Can stand alone. 3. Joiner: but – One of the Fanboys. We have joined 2 house with a bridge
Making it Complex using because; The food smelled good. The girls used spices. Answer: The food smelled good because the girl used spices. Why: 1 Main clause +1 Dependent clause starting with because. The because part cannot stand alone.
Simple: The girls cooked and sang. Why: Only 1 subject. The girls +2 verbs cooked and sang. Still 1 complete idea= Simple. 3. When supper was ready, everyone sat down. Answer: Complex. Why:
When supper was ready =Dependent clause: everyone sat down= independent clause.
Rule: If it starts with when, Because, If, Although, it is usually complex.
Public examination past paper style question 4. Instruction: Join the following pairs of sentences to form: a. A compound Sentence using so. The kitchen was dirty. The prefects cleaned it. B. A complex sentence using after: They finished cooking. They served the food.
Identify the type: The students ate sadza and vegetables. Compound sentence = 2Houses + Bridge. Formula: Independent Clause + FANBOYS + Independent clause. Remember FANBOYS For, And, No, But, Or, Yet, So Rule: Use a comma before FANBOYS when joining 2 full sentences.
Question 2 joining sentences using and. The girls cooked sadza. The boys fetched water. The girls cooked sadza and the boys fetched water. Question 3. Join using but: It was supper time. Some students were still late. It was supper time but some students were still late.
Question 4. Join using or: We can sweep the compound. We can pick up litter. Answer: We can sweep or pick up litter. Question 5. Identify + explain. I was tired, yet I finished my homework.
Answer: I was hungry yet I completed the journey. What is correct?
2 independent clauses joined with yet = Compound. 2 small fixes: Comma: I was hungry, yet I completed the journey. COMPOUND Rule: 1C, FANBOYS: 1C. Both sides must make sense alone. I was hungry. I completed the journey. Do these drills to master these aspects of English grammar.
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