Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentence Structures
There are four types of sentence structures, which represent different combinations of independent and dependent clauses.
An Independent Clause has a subject and verb and makes a complete thought.
- I ate breakfast.
- I went to school.
A Dependent Clause has a subject and verb, but does not make a complete thought. It does not make sense by itself. It must have more information to form a complete thought.
- Before I went to school.
- After I ate breakfast.
Simple Sentence = 1 Independent Clause
A simple sentence has at least one subject and one verb. It makes one complete thought. It is an independent clause. A simple sentence can have a compound subject or a compound verb or both.
1. Simple Sentence = Subject + Verb + Complete Thought
- We eat watermelon in the summer.
- My name is Bob.
- What is your name?
- Norah and Elliott played together happily.
- My sister and I ride the bus.
- Do you and your friend want a treat?
3. Compound Verb = Subject + More than one Verb
- I washed and dried my hair.
- We hiked and canoed on vacation.
- Did you eat or drink anything?
Compound Sentence = 2 Independent Clauses
A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined together. There are two ways to join a compound sentence.
1. Independent Clause + Comma + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause
- I like art class, and I like music class.
- I have a cat, but I don't have a dog.
Coordinating Conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)
2. Independent Clause + Semicolon + Independent Clause
- I like art class; I like music class.
- I have a cat; I don't have a dog.
Complex Sentence = Independent + Dependent Clause
A complex sentence has one independent and one dependent clause combined with a subordinate conjunction. There are two ways to form a complex sentence depending on which clause is first.
1. Independent Clause + Subordinate Conjunction + Dependent Clause
- She made a call before she visited her friend.
- Independent Clause: She made a call
- Dependent Clause: before she visited her friend.
2. Subordinate Conjunction + Dependent Clause + Comma + Independent Clause
- Before she visited her friend, she made a call.
- Independent Clause: she made a call
- Dependent Clause: Before she visited her friend.
Compound-Complex Sentence = 2 Independent Clauses + 1 or more Dependent Clause/s
A compound-complex sentence has two independent clauses and one or more dependent clause/s. How can one identify a compound-complex sentence? Look for three subject + verb clauses and two conjunctions.
- Sentence: We go to the lake in summer, but my dog stays at home because he gets carsick when travelling.
- Independent Clause: We go to the lake in summer
- Independent Clause: but my dog stays at home.
- Dependent Clause: because he gets carsick when travelling.
- Although he had a lot of work to do, he took a break, and he returned feeling refreshed and ready to work again.
- Independent Clause: he took a break.
- Independent Clause: and he returned feeling refreshed and ready to work again.
- Dependent Clause: Although he had a lot of work to do.
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