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English, French, and Math Support: Sentence structure basics

Marianopolis College provides students with support for improving their English and French language abilities, as well as support for improving their Math skills, all through professional support. All services are free.

Sentence structure basics

All sentences consist of one or more clauses. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. Some clauses are independent, and others are dependent. For a sentence to be complete, it must contain at least one independent clause.

 

Independent and dependent clauses

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be connected to an independent clause.

 

There are different types of dependent clauses. For more information, please refer to the Writing Centre's Dependent Clauses page.

 

Sentence types

There are four sentence patterns: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. The different patterns are categorized according to various combinations of independent and dependent clauses.

Simple sentence

The simple sentence is composed of one independent clause.

A simple sentence may have one subject and one verb.

A simple sentence may contain two or more subject and/or two or more verbs.

A simple sentence may also contain phrases and other modifiers such as articles, adjectives, and adverbs.

 

Compound sentences

The compound sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses but no dependent clauses. 

There are three ways to join the independent clauses in a compound sentence: 

1. Two independent clauses may be joined by a semicolon when they have an implied logical relationship.

2. Two independent clauses may be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction. The seven coordinating conjunctions are easily remembered with the mnemonic device FANBOYS.  

3. Two independent clauses may be joined by a semicolon, a transitional word or phrase, and a comma. 

 

Here are some examples of commonly used transitional words and phrases: 

However Nonetheless Accordingly
Therefore Similarly Consequently
Furthermore Undoubtedly Finally
Moreover For instance Hence
On the other hand For example Thus

 

Complex sentences

The complex sentence is composed of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

The dependent clauses may be located in any of the following positions within a complex sentence: before the independent clause, after the independent clause, before and after the independent clause, or interrupting the independent clause.

 

 

 

Compound-complex sentences

The compound-complex sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

 

 

Sentence structure basics - Exercises

A. Write an “S” above the subject and a “V” above the verb in the following sentences. Underline independent clauses once and dependent clauses twice. Then indicate which type of sentence each one is.

Visit Writing Centre staff to check your answers.

  1.  I used to have a beautiful pant by my window, but it dies when I forgot to water it.
     
  2.  With lightening speed, the defenseman's perfectly-placed slapshot blasted the puck over the goalie's shoulder and into the top left corner of the net.
     
  3. The student finished his essay well before the end of the exam; nonetheless, he was exhausted from the effort of writing and didn't feel like editing his work.
     
  4. My favourite move, which I've seen at least five times, depicts an epic battle between good and evil.
     
  5. To Sam, nothing in the world could compare to the delicious gingerbread that his grandmother prepared for Christmas each year.
     
  6. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby, so just come down when you're ready.

 

B. Apply your understanding of the four sentence patterns by writing sentences according to the instructions
below. Practice restating the same ideas in different ways using the sentence patterns. (Consult the “Example” box, above)
  1. Write a simple sentence.
     
  2. Write a compound sentence that joins the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
     
  3. Write a compound sentence that joins clauses with a semicolon.
     
  4. Write a compound sentence that joins the clauses with a semicolon, a transitional word or phrase, and a comma.
     
  5. Write a complex sentence that includes an independent clause followed by a dependent clause beginning with because or although.
     
  6. Write a complex sentence that includes an independent clause interrupted by a dependent clause beginning with who, that, or which.
     
  7. Write a complex sentence that includes a dependent clause beginning with after, when, or while followed by an independent clause.

Sentence structure basics -- Printable format

If you would prefer to have the above information in a printable, PDF format, please click here:

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