Sentence Patterns

Simple, Compound, Complex and Compound-Complex

sentences
 Sentence Patterns
Subjects, Verbs, and Clauses

• In its simplest form, an English sentence has two parts: a

subject and a verb that express a complete thought when
they are together.
• The subject shows who or what is doing the action. It is
always some form of noun or pronoun.

• The verb shows the action or the state of being. It can be

an action verb, like “run,” or a state verb, like “seem.”
• Examples of simple two word sentences include:
• Marvin slept.
• Dogs bark.
• Isotopes react.
• We usually want to convey much more information,
so we modify the main subject and verb with other
words and phrases, as in the sentences below:

• Fortunately, Marvin slept fitfully.

• Dogs bark louder after midnight.
• Heavy isotopes react more slowly than light
isotopes of the same element.

• Despite the extra information, each of these

sentences has one subject and one verb, so it’s still
just one clause. What’s a clause?
• A clause is the combination of a subject and a verb.
When you have a subject and verb, you have a
clause. Pretty easy, isn’t it? We’re going to
concentrate on clauses in this handout, with
emphasis on these two in particular:

• Independent clause: a subject and verb that make

a complete thought. Independent clauses are called
independent because they can stand on their own
and make sense.
• Dependent clause: a subject and verb that don’t
make a complete thought. Dependent clauses
always need to be attached to an independent
clause (they’re too weak to stand alone).
Examples of Dependent and independent Clauses

– as she leaned across the table

– they voted for a new chairperson
– the bottle was broken
– which they all said
– if someone can help me
– that the car was already in the garage
– my birthday comes in August
– that photograph is striking
– is the cup full
– since Keeley is not going
 Examples continue--
– Dr. Zamora left the dinner party before the main
course was served.
– Before we begin the meeting, let me introduce the
newest member of our team.
– The last singer on the program is the one who can hit
the high notes.
– When the conductor tapped her baton, the orchestra
fell silent.
– One planet that has often excited the imaginations of
science fiction writers is Mars, which is sometimes
called the red planet.
 Compound Subject and Verb

• Compound subject (two subjects related to the same

verb):
• Javier and his colleagues collaborated on the research
article.
• Compound verb (two verbs related to the same
subject):
• Javier conducted the experiment and documented the
results.
• Compound subject with compound verb:
• Javier, his colleagues, and their advisor drafted and
revised the article several times.
• Pattern 1: Simple Sentence
• One independent clause (SV.)
• Mr. Potato Head eats monkeys.
• I refuse.
• The new science teacher waits for her new
folders.
 Simple sentences: SV
• 1. A noun is person, place, thing, or idea.
• 2. A flamingo is a noun.
• 3. Nouns will either be subjects, direct objects,
predicate nominatives, objects of a
• prepositional phrase, or indirect objects.
• 4. Tuna can be a subject.
• 5. It can also be a direct object.
• 6. Unfortunately, tornadoes during the summer
can destroy entire neighborhoods.
 SSV
11. Basketball and football are team sports involving strength
and skill.
12. Hunting and fishing are individual sports involving precision
and discipline.
13. Aunt Doris and Uncle Jimmy refuse to play any sport.
14. Friends and family have encouraged them to get busy doing
something.
15. Doctors and researchers support an active lifestyle.
16. Unfortunately, children and adults continue to ignore this
advice.
17. The stubborn, ignorant, and passive will resist any type of
exercise.
18. Either Aunt Doris or Uncle Jimmy needs to be the first to
push for a change.
 SVV
19.Tommy failed English and needs summer school.
20. He will pay the entire amount tomorrow and work hard
next semester.
21. His parents are upset but believe him.
22. They bought him a computer for Christmas but returned it
after the news.
23. Now he’s riding his bike to the library and working there.
24. In the snow, he bundles up and walks.
25. His parents enforce rules of tough love and insist upon his
independence.
26. He grows sad but refuses to quit.
27. Others with these types of problems might surrender and
quit.
28. Tommy knows and believes in the lessons learned.
 SSVV
• Students and teachers arrived and watched the world’s greatest
tournament.
• 30. Either Terrence or Michael would score the run and secure the
victory.
• 31. Mandy, Alice, and Nora play instruments and sing nicely
together.
• 32. The band and the dancers start the tournament and excite the
crowd.
• 33. You and I should have purchased twenty tickets or stayed home.
• 34. Drinking water and eating vegetables aids your metabolism and
cleans your system.
• 35. Recycling and reusing will reduce waste and create a healthier
environment.
• 36. Losing a calculator and paying for a new one will teach anyone a
valuable lesson and generate a responsible individual.
 Pattern 2: Compound Sentence
• Two or more independent clauses. They can be arranged in
these ways: (SV, and SV.) or (SV; however, SV.)

• Connectors with a comma, the FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so (See our handout on commas for more info.)
• Connectors with a semicolon and comma: however, moreover,
nevertheless, nonetheless, therefore

• Example compound sentences:

• Mr. Potato Head eats them for breakfast every day, but I don’t
see the attraction.
• Eating them makes him happy; however, he can’t persuade
me.
• Examples: Compound Sentence—The
announcements will run all day, but no one will read
them.
• Pattern: SV ,but SV
(Announcements will run, but no one will read)
• The sentence is compound because 2 independent
clauses are joined by the , coordinating conjunction.
• Simple Sentence—We will read
announcements but ignore their content.
• Pattern: SVV
• 1. The kids are in school, and many look extremely bored.
• 2. Little Billy tries to do his best, but the work just gets harder and harder.
• 3. In the morning he drinks his juice, eats his toast, and brushes his teeth,
but nothing helps.
• 4. One time at band camp, a girl tried to help him with some lessons, but
he freaked out.
• 5. He couldn’t remember her name, and she got angry.
• 6. Little Billy tried telling his parents about little Suzy, but his dad couldn’t
hear him.
• 7. Billy’s father had always bragged about Billy at work, but now shame
would take over.
• 8. Billy couldn’t live with that guilt, so he dedicated himself to being
better with names.
• 9. Little Suzy saw Billy at school, and she couldn’t believe it!
• 10. He’d cut his hair, bought new clothes, and trimmed his nails, but
something else was different.
• 11. She waited until band class to make her move and ask him out, but,
even then, she was afraid.
• 12. Little Suzy had only loved one guy before, and he left her after the
prom.
• 13. She was willing to confront Billy, yet something held her back.
• 14. She decided to bake him an apple pie, for she heard that it was his
favorite.
• 15. She arrived early for class the next day and waited for him to sit down,
but he never showed.
• 16. Suzy gave the pie to the drummer, and he smiled thankfully.
• 17. The drummer loved hot, apple pie, and he couldn’t wait to get home.
 Pattern 3: Complex Sentence

One independent clause PLUS one or more dependent clauses. They can be
arranged in these ways: (SV because SV.) or (Because SV, SV.) or (S, because SV,
V.)
Connectors are always at the beginning of the dependent clause. They show
how the dependent clause is related to the independent clause. This list shows
different types of relationships along with the connectors that indicate those
relationships:

Cause/Effect: because, since, so that

Comparison/Contrast: although, even though, though, whereas, while
Place/Manner: where, wherever, how, however
Possibility/Conditions: if, whether, unless
Relation: that, which, who, whom
Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while, until
• Examples of complex sentences:
1. He recommends them highly because they taste like
chicken when they are hot.
2. Although chicken always appeals to me, I still feel
skeptical about monkey.
3. Mrs. Potato Head, because she loves us so much, has
offered to make her special monkey souffle for us.
4. She can cook it however she wants.
5. Although I am curious, I am still skeptical.
 Pattern 4: Compound-Complex Sentence

• Two or more independent clauses PLUS one or

more dependent clauses. They can be
arranged in these ways: (SV, and SV because
SV.) or (Because SV, SV, but SV.)
• Connectors: Connectors listed under Patterns
2 & 3 are used here. Find the connectors, then
find the verbs and subjects that are part of
each clause.
1. Though Mitchell prefers watching romantic films, he
rented the latest spy thriller, and he enjoyed it very much.
2. Laura forgot her friend's birthday, so she sent her a card
when she finally remembered.
3. The team captain jumped for joy, and the fans cheered
because we won the state championship.
OR
4. When we won the state championship, the team captain
jumped for joy, and the fans cheered.
5. Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately,
and I haven't found anyone to go with.
6. Although I like books, I do not like romance novels, but my sister
loves them.
7. Jim’s mom went to the store because it’s his birthday, and she
bought him a present.
8. Until he graduates, he will live in the apartment, but then he
wants to move.
9. Molly, who loves cats, plans to get a kitten, but she needs to
find a house.
10. Jennifer sat in her chair, which was a dark red recliner, and she
read all evening.