SENTENCE STRUCTURE
SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX, AND COMPOUNDCOMPLEX SENTENCES
TYPES OF CLAUSES
Independent Clause
• Has a subject and a
verb
• Can stand by itself as a
complete sentence
Example:
The boy went to school.
Dependent Clause
A.K.A. “Subordinate Clause”
• Has a subject and a
verb
• Cannot stand by itself
as a complete
sentence
Example:
After he ate breakfast
SIMPLE AND COMPOUND SENTENCES
Simple Sentence
Compound Sentence
• Consists of one
independent clause
• May have a
compound subject or
compound verb
• Never has a
dependent clause
• Consists of two or more
independent clauses
• Independent clauses
must be connected by a
comma and a
coordinating conjunction
or a semi-colon.
• Never has a dependent
clause
Examples:
My sister went to school.
I stayed home sick.
Example:
My sister went to school,
but I stayed home sick.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
• Coordinating
conjunctions are
used to connect two
independent clauses
in a compound
sentence.
• There are only 7 of
them, so the
acronym “FANBOYS”
can help you
remember them all.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
F – for
A – and
N – nor
B – but
O – or
Y – yet
S - so
PRACTICE
• Write two related simple sentences.
• Check:
• Does each one have a subject and a verb?
• Do they begin with a capital letter and end with a period?
• Combine the two simple sentences into a
compound sentence.
• Check:
• Are there two independent clauses? Underline them.
• Is there a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to
connect them? Circle it.
COMPLEX SENTENCES
• A complex sentence contains an independent
clause and at least one dependent clause.
• The dependent clause is introduced by either a
subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.
Examples:
 I went to the store because I ran out of milk.
 I read the book that looked the most interesting.
INTRODUCING DEPENDENT CLAUSES
Subordinating Conjunctions
• There are many. Here are
some examples:
• although
• while
• if
• because
• after
• until
• when
• as if
• despite
Relative Pronouns
• There are only 5:
• who
• whom
• whose
• that
• which
PARTS OF A COMPLEX SENTENCE
 Independent clause
 Subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun
 Dependent clause
Complex sentences can begin with either the
independent or the dependent clause. Use a comma to
separate the clauses if the dependent clause comes first.
Examples:
• Although I don’t have homework, I still have to study for
a test.
• I will have an A in the class if I study hard enough.
• I should read the notes that I took in class.
PRACTICE
Now you write two complex sentences.
• Write one that begins with an independent clause.
• Ex: I went to the store because I ran out of milk.
• Write another one that begins with a dependent
clause. In this case, use a comma to separate the
two clauses.
• Ex: Because I ran out of milk, I went to the store.
SELF-CHECK
• Does each sentence have an independent clause?
Underline it.
• Does each sentence have at least one dependent
clause? Double underline it.
• Does the dependent clause begin with a
subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun?
Circle it.
• Does your second sentence have a comma
separating the two clauses?
• Does each sentence begin with a capital letter and
end with a period?
COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES
• A compound-complex sentence is a complex
sentence joined to a simple sentence with a
conjunction.
• It consists of at least two independent clauses and
one dependent clause.
Examples:
 Although the book was long, I read the whole
thing, so my teacher was impressed.
 I needed to buy milk, but when I got there, the
store was closed.
PRACTICE
• Now write your own compound-complex sentence.
• Make sure you include:
• 1 complex sentence (an independent clause and
a dependent clause that begins with a
subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun)
• 1 additional independent clause using a
coordinating conjunction to connect it to the
complex sentence.
SELF-CHECK
• Does your sentence have at least 2 independent
clauses? Underline them.
• Are your independent clauses joined by a comma
and a coordinating conjunction? Box them.
• Does your sentence have a dependent clause?
Double underline it.
• Does your dependent clause begin with a
subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun?
Circle it.
• If your dependent clause is at the beginning of the
sentence, is there a comma separating it from the
independent clause?