Parts of Speech (P.O.S.) Study Notes (Part I)
Subject (SUBJ) and Verb (V) – the basic parts of a complete sentence; also called a noun and
verb, but please use Subject and Verb
Subject + Verb = Complete Thought


SUBJ V
The air shook.
Robert began to play the cello.
Clause – a group of words that contain a subject and a verb.
Independent Clause – a group of words that can stand alone.
Dependent Clause – a group of words that CANNOT stand alone (also known as a
fragmented or incomplete sentence).
4 Types of Sentence Structure Study Notes
1. Simple Sentence –


has 1 idea (we call this an independent clause).

B.J. went to band practice.
Landslides and avalanches are common.
The door squeaked and rattled.
2.
Compound sentence
–
2 ideas or independent clauses;
uses a comma and conjunctions (FANBOY: for, and, nor, but, or, yet)
Independent
conjunction
Independent
, and he started his homework.

Bruce arrived home from volley ball practice
3.
Complex sentence

Dependent
Independent
When the alarm went off, Mrs. Hughes automatically hit the snooze button.
–
1
dependent clause +
1 complete idea.
4. Compound - Complex – 1


dependent clause +
2 complete ideas.
Dependent
Independent
Independent
Because the day is so important, the schools were closed and communities celebrated.
Dependent
Independent
Independent
Since the school children had the day off, they participated in parades and they smeared their faces
with cotton candy.
SOL 7.8f Why does understanding the POS help me? It helps make my sentences complete!
SOL 7.8f Why does understanding the types of sentences help my writing? I can rearrange my sentences to make my writing say what I want to say in an
interesting way!