The Writing Center
Directed Learning Activities
Basic Sentence Patterns
Student Name:
Instructor:
Date:
Course:
IMPORTANT NOTE: All the activities (3) in this DLA must be completed in their entirety before meeting
with a tutor and receiving credit. Where indicated, complete your work on this sheet.
Objective: Through independent work, this activity explains basic sentence patterns and will help you practice
composing correct sentences.
Understanding Basic Sentence Patterns
A key component to writing is that it should not only make sense grammatically, but the ideas should also connect
and flow smoothly from one to another. One way to make sentences flow smoothly is to use various sentence
patterns.
Key parts to every sentence:
1) Subject: the who or what in the sentence doing the action or expressing the relationship or condition in the
sentence
José is fluent in Portuguese.
2) Verb: expresses the action, condition, or relationship to the subject
Myrna speaks German.
Review these sentence patterns.
Sentence Pattern 1: Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought.
1. José studied for the exam.
2. Elaine and Stephanie needed someone to proofread their papers.
3. He reviewed the sentence card and wrote practice sentences.
NOTE: A simple sentence can have more than one subject and more than one verb (See numbers 2
and 3 above).
DLA: Basic Sentence Patterns 2
Sentence Pattern 2: Compound Sentence
When you want to join two complete sentences, use a semicolon; a comma and a coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS); or a semicolon, conjunctive adverb, and comma.
1. José wrote his paper; his classmates then gave him feedback on his writing.
2. José studied, but Chris fell asleep.
S-V; S-V.
Or
S-V, conjunction S-V.
Or
S-V; conj. adv. S-V.
3. José passed the exam; however, Chris failed it.
Sentence Pattern 3: Complex Sentence
Another way to join two complete sentences together is to use a subordinating conjunction to connect these
sentences.
1. Because he had studied hard, José aced the exam.
Subordinator S-V, S-V.
2. José aced the exam because he had studied hard.
Or
S-V subordinator S-V.
.
Sentence Pattern 4: Compound-Complex Sentence
Join three complete sentences together by adding a subordinating conjunction and a comma and coordinating
conjunction.
.
1. José wrote a rough draft, and he went to the tutoring center because he needed help.
2. Although he hadn’t studied, Chris expected to
pass, but he was wrong.
S-V, conjunction S-V
subordinator S-V.
Or
Subordinator S-V, S-V,
conjunction S-V.
Connecting Ideas Using Coordinators and Subordinators
The following chart shows coordinators and common subordinators used when moving from.point to point within
a paragraph.
Addition
Contrast
Consequence
Alternative
Coordinating conjunctions
(compound sentence)
and
yet
nor
but
for
so
The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 274-5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/writingcenter/
or
DLA: Basic Sentence Patterns 3
Conjunctive adverbs and
Transitional expressions
(compound sentence)
also
moreover
furthermore
in addition
nevertheless
however
in contrast
on the other hand
consequently
therefore
as a result
Subordinating conjunctions
(complex sentence)
along with
in addition to
even though
although
while
though
because
since
Activities (approximately one hour): Follow the steps below and be prepared to explain your answers when
you meet with a tutor. Please check off each box when you have completed the task.
 1.
Open up a web browser and navigate to http://www.quia.com/quiz/2922118.html. Click “Start Now” and
complete the quiz on Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences. After you finish, click “Submit
Answers,” and then PLEASE ASK A LAB TUTOR TO PRINT THE PAGE THAT HAS YOUR
SCORE. DO NOT EXIT THE PROGRAM UNTIL THE TUTOR HAS PRINTED THIS PAGE (FREE
OF CHARGE). If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask a lab tutor.
 2.
Combine the pair of sentences below using both coordination and subordination strategies. Refer to the
chart of connectors to choose an appropriate connecting word and sentence pattern.
Myrna couldn’t speak English.
She was fluent in Spanish, French, and German.
1. Use a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
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2. Create a simple sentence using at least two verbs.
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3. Use a transitional expression in a compound sentence.
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4. Use a subordinating conjunction in a complex sentence.
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The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 274-5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/writingcenter/
DLA: Basic Sentence Patterns 4
 3a. Collect some of your written work. Find examples of the different sentence patterns, and write
them down below.
Simple Sentence: __________________________________________________________________
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Compound Sentence: _______________________________________________________________
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Complex Sentence: ________________________________________________________________
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Compound-Complex Sentence: _______________________________________________________
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If you do not have your own essay to work with, please complete the supplemental activity
below (3b).
 3b. On a separate sheet of paper or in a Word document, write two sentences for each of the four
sentence patterns above. You should have written a total of eight sentences.
 4.
Review: Sign-up to see a tutor on the “DLA Walk-in” list. During your session with a tutor, explain
your understanding of the different sentence patterns. Consider the main concept you learned in this
DLA. How will knowledge of these different sentence patterns affect your writing?
Student’s signature:
Date:
Tutor’s signature:
Date:
The Writing Center
Building 26B, Room 1561
(909) 274-5325
http://www.mtsac.edu/writingcenter/