SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Independent Clause - it can stand alone as a sentence because it has both a subject and a
verb and expresses a complete idea.
Example, “The sun is shining.” (“Sun” is the subject and “is” is the verb… together, they
form a complete thought.
Dependent Clause - also known as a subordinate clause, also contains a subject and a
verb, but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. That’s because it doesn’t express a
complete idea on its own. It depends on an independent clause to make sense.
Example:
“When the sun is shining…”
(This is an example of dependent clause, it has a subject “sun” and a verb phrase “is
shining”, but it cannot stand alone, this clause leaves you hanging because you need more
information to complete the thought).
Sentence Structure or the ‘building blocks’ we use to create clear and complete thoughts in writing.
Four (4) Types of Sentences Structure
1. simple sentence
2. compound sentences
3. Complex sentences
4. Compound-complex sentences.
A simple sentence contains one independent clause. It has a subject and a predicate, and it expresses a complete
thought. It may be short or long, but it does not contain any dependent clause.
For example,
The dog barks.
She laughed.
Example of a simple sentence but long is…
1. The Shaggy brown dog with the pretty pink ribbon around its neck barks noisily at the pesky squirrel climbing
up the old oak tree in the park near the elementary school on the Elm Street.
2. Calvin’s father, a notary public, administered the oath of office to his son in 1923.
3. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, once killed a man in a duel.
A Compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a comma and a coordinating
conjunction or by a semicolon.
Coordinating conjunction are the FANBOYS.
For And Nor But Or Yet So
Coordinating Conjunction: I tried to fix my computer, but I was not successful.
Semicolon: Spring is my favorite season; the weather is usually quite beautiful.
A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone, and it often starts with subordinating conjunctions like although, since,
when, if, until, while, as, etc.
For instance,
DC IC
Because I could not stop in time, I hit the garage door.
DC IC
What you said is not true.
African American inventors, who have contributed much to our modern civilization, are frequently overlooked
in the history books.
A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Example…
While the storm raged outside, Bert completed his homework and Elizabeth took a nap.
DC - While the storm raged outside
2 IC - Bert completed his homework and Elizabeth took a nap.