2. Sentence Structure
Sentences are nice little packages of words that come
together to express complete thought. They make it easy
to understand ideas and learn information.
In order to be a complete sentence, a group of words
needs a:
+
and it needs to express a complete thought.
Subject Verb
3. Cont…
• If a group of words is missing any of that information, it is
probably a sentence fragment.
• A sentence fragment
• lacks a verb:
A colorfully decorated circus clown.
• or lacks a subject:
swam across the entire length of the sea.
• or is a subordinate clause, or dependent clause, not
attached to a complete sentence.
Into the lap of a wild, hungry lion.
A sentence fragment does not express a complete
thought.
4. Cont…
• If a group of words containing two or more independent
clauses that are not properly punctuated, it is probably a
run-on sentence.
I love to write papers I would write one everyday if I had
the time.
• There are two complete sentences in the above
example:
1. I love to write papers
2. I would write one everyday if I had the time.
• We can correct a run-on sentence by connecting its
parts correctly by using punctuation marks.
5. The Four Sentence Structures
• There are mainly four sentence structures:
Simple
sentences
Complex
sentences
Compound
sentences
Compound
- complex
sentences
6. Simple Sentences
• A simple sentence contains only one independent
clause.
• An independent clause is a group of words( with a
subject and a verb) that expresses a complete thought.
I take tea.
I take tea is an independent clause. It contains a subject
(I) and a verb( take) and it expresses a complete
thought.
7. Compound Sentences
• A compound sentence contains at least two independent
clauses. These clauses are joined together by
coordinating conjunctions or a semi colon. A
coordinating conjunction is a word that glues words,
phrases, or clauses together.
She cooked
and
He cleaned
• She cooked and he cleaned are two independent
clauses that are joined together by the conjunction “and”.
So it is compound sentence.
8. Complex Sentences
• A complex sentence contains a subordinate clause and
an independent clause.
• A subordinate clause is a group of words that has a
subject and a verb but does express a complete thought.
I washed the dishes
after
I ate breakfast
I washed the dishes after I ate breakfast.
• I washed the dishes is an independent clause. After I ate
break fast is a subordinate clause. So this is a complex
sentence because it has both type of clauses.
9. Compound- Complex
Sentences
• A compound –complex sentence contains at least two
independent clauses and one subordinate clause.
I have purchased the cheese
that
you like
but
it was too expensive
10. Cont…
• “ I have purchased the cheese” and “ It was too
expensive” are both independent clauses. They are
joined by the conjunction “ but”.
• “ that you like” is a dependent clause modifying the noun
“ cheese”. So the whole sentence is a compound-
complex sentence.
“ While Uzair reads novels, Qanit reads comics, but
Daniyal only reads magazines.”
In the whole sentence we have two independent clauses:
“ while Uzair reads novels” and “ Qanit reads comics”.
These two clauses are joined together by “but” with the
subordinate clause “ Daniyal only reads magazines”.
