Rachel's younger brother is in fourth grade. She is trying to explain to him how to do a household task. She is going to read the explanation aloud and post it on the refrigerator for him to refer to later. What kind of sentences do you recommend Rachel use: simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex?
Identify two sentence types.
For a fourth grader, it would be best for Rachel to use simple sentences. Simple sentences are short and straightforward, making them easier for her younger brother to understand and follow.
Example of simple sentences for an explanation:
- First, gather all the dirty clothes in a laundry basket.
- Next, sort the clothes into different piles for whites, colors, and darks.
- Then, put each pile of clothes into the washing machine.
- After that, add the right amount of laundry detergent to the machine.
- Finally, close the lid and press the start button to begin the washing cycle.
Another option she could use is compound sentences, which combine two related independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction (such as "and", "but", "or", etc.)
Example of compound sentences for an explanation:
- Gather all the dirty clothes in a laundry basket, and then sort them into different piles.
- Put each pile of clothes into the washing machine, but don't forget to add the right amount of laundry detergent.
- Close the lid and press the start button to begin the washing cycle, or ask for help if you're not sure what to do.