Confused about simple, complex, and compound sentences?  This website will help.

Here are the descriptions that your child aught to have brought home today.

Subject Who or what the sentence is about.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Predicate What happens to the subject.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Simple Subject Just the noun that makes up the subject.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Complete Subject All the words that show who or what the sentence is about.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Compound Subject A subject that has two or more people or things.  (Ex:  The blue ball and red baseball bat rolled down the driveway.)

Simple Predicate The verb that shows what the subject does.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Complete Predicate All the words that show what the subject did.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Compound Predicate The words that show multiple things that the subject did.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway and hit a passing car.)

Dependent Clause Part of a sentence that cannot be a sentence on its own.  (Ex:  I came to school late because of the late bus.  “Because of the late bus” cannot be a complete sentence.)

Independent Clause Part of a sentence that can be a sentence on its own.  (Ex:  I came to school late because of the late bus.  “I came to school late.” can be a complete sentence.)

Simple Sentence A sentence that has only an independent clause.  (Ex:  The blue ball rolled down the driveway.)

Complex Sentence A sentence with an independent clause AND one or more dependent clauses.  (Ex:  After Mary kicked it, the blue ball rolled down the driveway because of the blacktop’s slope.)

Compound Sentence A sentence that is actually made of two sentences that are joined together with the words and, but, so, or other words.  (Mary kicked the blue ball, so it rolled into the street.)

Want the answers to tonight’s homework so you can help your kids?  Click the link (right below this line) to read more!

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I challenge each and every student in our class to participate in the 2009 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge.  Does that list seem a bit overwhelming?  It all starts with one book.  …or one magazine.  …or maybe an article.  All it takes is one piece of reading.  Once you have read just one title, you’re a participant!  Once you’ve read one book, it’s easy to make that TWO books.  Then it can become THREE.  Before you know it, you’ll have several titles on your list.

But remember, it all starts with one book.

If everyone in Room 209 participates in the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge, I have a very special reward up my sleeve waiting for you.  Are you curious what it is?  You’ll find out on the first day of school!

If you need another copy of the reading log, you can print it out by clicking here.  But any paper will work!

Remember, it all starts with one book.  If you haven’t started yet, now is a perfect time!