Types of Sentence Structure

 

Types of Sentence Structure

Remember that every clause is, in a sense, a miniature sentence. A simple sentences contains only a single clause, while a compound sentence, a complex sentence, or a compound-complex sentence contains at least two clauses.

The Simple Sentence                        

The most basic type of sentence is the simple sentence, which contains only one clause. A simple sentence can be as short as one word:

Examples of simple sentences:

a)      Some students like to study in the mornings.

b)      Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon.

c)       Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

Simple sentence can contain compound subjects or compound verbs.

a)      Hazmira and Batrisya fight at the shooting venue.

b)      Batrisya goes to TSL library and studies every day.

Compound sentence

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The independent clauses can be joined in three ways

a)      Coordinating conjunctions. = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)

b)      Conjunctive adverbs = also, besides, furthermore, however, on the other hand, otherwise, for example, accordingly

c)       Semicolon

Examples of Compound Sentences:

a)      America is a rich country, yet it has many poor people.

b)      The student did not come to class regularly; therefore, he is barred from taking the final exam

c)       My older brother studies law; my younger brother studies medicine.

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which.

Examples of Complex Sentences:

In the following complex sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the subordinators and their commas (when required) are in red.

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