OBJECTIVE:
Complex sentences have an independent clause (subject and verb that can stand alone) and one or more clauses or verbal phrases.

Example: When the the snow melts in the spring, the rivers rise.

The independent clause is “the rivers rise.” The dependant clause is “When the snow melts in the spring”.

Complex sentences allow writers to deemphasize the content in the clause or phrase and emphasize the content in the independent clause.

Example: Running through the woods at dusk, I left my concerns behind.

The independent clause is “I left my concerns behind.” The participial phrase is “Running through the woods at dusk”

We will generate a complex sentence in the DRAG-N-DROP mode on piclits.com and will learn how to select words to create the necessary clauses and phrases.

MODEL PIC-LIT:

Notice the participial phrase “Running from the hot sand to the cool water” depends on the rest of the sentence to be a complete sentence.

The “the woman could not wait to dive in the ocean” is an independent clause.

GUIDED PRACTICE WRITING PROMPT:

1. Go to piclits.com
2. Sign in with your e-mail and password
3. Select a picture from the gallery of pictures
4. In DRAG-N-DROP mode, write a complex sentence by using the words from the word bank.