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Sentence Structure

This document discusses different types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. It defines each sentence type and provides examples. A simple sentence contains one independent clause. A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction like "and." A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause joined by a subordinating conjunction. A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause. The document outlines the basic elements of a sentence and provides more examples and analysis of sentence structure.

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144 views33 pages

Sentence Structure

This document discusses different types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. It defines each sentence type and provides examples. A simple sentence contains one independent clause. A compound sentence contains at least two independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction like "and." A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause joined by a subordinating conjunction. A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause. The document outlines the basic elements of a sentence and provides more examples and analysis of sentence structure.

Uploaded by

ofhasib
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Sentence Structure: Sentence Types

Sentence Types
! Simple ! Compound ! Complex ! Compound-Complex

Basic Elements of Every Sentence

SUBJECT

PREDICATE

Basic Elements
SUBJECT PREDICATE

Mary

plays tennis.

SIMPLE SENTENCE
SUBJECT PREDICATE

Mary
one subject

plays tennis.
one predicate

Simple Sentence

Tom and Mary

play tennis.

Compound Subject &

Simple Sentence

Tom and Mary

play tennis and swim.

Compound Subject &

Compound Predicate

&

SIMPLE SENTENCE with compound subject Tom and Mary play tennis.

SIMPLE SENTENCE with compound subject and compound predicate


Tom and Mary play tennis and swim.

Compound Sentence with Coordinating Conjunctions


SUBJECT
and

PREDICATE

SUBJECT

PREDICATE

Compound Sentence
Tom swims,

and

Mary

plays tennis.

FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO

Tom swims, and Mary plays tennis.


Clause 1 Independent Clause 2 Independent

Tom swims, and Mary plays tennis.


Comma before and in compound sentences!

MOREOVER HOWEVER OTHERWISE THEREFORE

Bob is handsome; moreover, he is rich.


Clause 1 Independent Clause 2 Independent

Bob is handsome; moreover, he is rich.

Note: Semicolon before conjunctive adverb and comma after conjunctive adverb!

Conjunctive Adverbs float


!

Conjunctive adverbs are sometimes called oating adverbs because they can be positioned at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a clause.

Bob is handsome; moreover, he is rich. Bob is handsome; he is, moreover, rich. Bob is handsome; he is rich, moreover.

Semicolons
!

If the relation between the ideas expressed in the main clauses is very close and obvious without a conjunction, you can separate the clauses with a semicolon (Little, Brown Handbook, 9th Edition, p. 361).

Matt has benefited from his exercise program; he is slim and energetic.

Complex Sentence
SUBJECT
even though

PREDICATE

SUBJECT

PREDICATE

Complex Sentence
Bob
even though

is popular

he

is ugly.

The most common subordinating conjunctions are "after,"

"although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," though," "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether, and while."

Bob is popular even though he is ugly.


Clause 1 Independent Clause 2 Dependent

Even though Bob is ugly, he is popular.


Clause 1 Dependent Clause 2 Independent

Examples of complex sentences


If the paperwork arrives on time, your cheque will be mailed on Tuesday. ! After she had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent. ! Gerald had to begun his thesis over again when his computer crashed. ! I wondered whether the homework was necessary (or not).
!

Compound-Complex Sentence
Mike
because

is popular

he
but

is good looking,

he

is not very happy.

Examples of compound-complex sentences Naoki passed the test because he studied hard and understood the material. ! The package arrived in the morning, but the courier left before I could check the contents. ! There are many problems to solve before this program can be used, but engineers believe that they will be able to solve them soon.
!

Analyze these sentences


1.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada, but Toronto is the capital of Ontario.


Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

2.

Unless my girlfriend postpones her visit from Calgary, I will not have time to study for my exam. 4. Susanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.
3.

The football game was cancelled because it was raining. 6. The football game was cancelled because of the rain. 7. The Island was filled with many trails winding through the thick underbrush, a small lake, and
5.

References
Writing Academic English, Second Edition, by Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue. White Plains: Addison, Wesley, Longman, 1999. The Little, Brown Handbook, by H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E. Aaron, Pearson, 2004.

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