Grammar Equations

Equation for a Sentence

     Subject

     Verb

+  Complete Thought

    SENTENCE or

    Independent Clause

Equation for a Dependent Clause

     Subordinating Conjunctions

    Subject

     Verb

+  Unfinished Thought

    Dependent Clause or

    Subordinate Clause

Compound Sentence Formula

S+V , fanboys S+V 

OR 

Independent Clause, fanboys Independent Clause

Complex Sentence Formula

Dependent Clause , + independent clause

     (Note:  Use a comma when you begin a sentence with the dependent clause)

OR

Independent clause + dependent clause

     (Note:  Don’t use a comma when the dependent clause comes at the end of the sentence.)