Sentence Structure in English
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence expresses a single thought and must contain a subject and a verb.
Elements of Simple Sentences
The primary component of a simple sentence is an independent clause, even though there are times when it can contain other words such as objects and modifiers.
Independent Clause
An independent clause is composed of a subject and a predicate and can express a complete on its own in a sentence. In other words, an independent clause is a simple sentence on its own. The following are the examples:
- She ate an apple.
- He went to the bus.
- The dog barked.
Every sentence has an independent clause, but simple sentences have only one independent clause.
Dependent Clause
A dependent clause is a set of words that includes both a subject and a verb. It is not a sentence and cannot stand alone since it does not communicate a complete notion. Adverb clauses, adjective clauses, and noun clauses are examples of these clauses.
Dependent clauses are dependent because of the presence of a:
1. Marker Word (because, after, before, since, in order to, although, though, whenever, wherever, whether, while, even though, even if, etc.)
2. Conjunction (but, and, or, nor, yet, etc.)
E.g. Because I forgot my homework, I got sent home.
Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two simple sentences that are connected with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
A compound sentence is made up of two or more simple sentences joined with a conjunction.
1. I’m gonna take this computer and stop using my old computer.
2. A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.
3. I used to be snow white, but I drifted.
4.She is famous, yet she is very humble.
5. We went to the mall; however, we only went window-shopping.
6. I saw Samuel yesterday but he didn’t see me.
7. Mary doesn’t like cartoons because they are loud, so she doesn’t watch them.
8. They wanted to go to Paris, but I wanted to see London.
9. She is very smart, and she knows it
10. I think you’d enjoy the party, I don’t mind if you stay home.
11. They spoke to him in French, but he responded in English.
12. I spent all my savings, so I can’t go to France this winter.
13. I want to lose weight, yet I eat chocolate daily.
Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is a sentence that is composed of one or more dependent clauses and a single independent clause. A dependent clause is also known as a subordinate clause. An independent clause is a complete sentence on its own, unlike a dependent clause that depends on other clauses to express a complete idea. A sentence is said to be complex if it contains the two clauses (independent and dependent).
• A complex sentence only differs from a compound sentence in that it has a single independent clause, while a compound sentence has two independent clauses.
1. He had climbed many mountains when he was a boy.
2. I use water when making pasta whereas my mom uses eggs.
3. You had better wait until the fireman come.
4. A company is stronger if it is bound by love rather than by fear.
5. Before I have breakfast, I always have a shower.
6. They can go wherever they want.
7. Although he was sick, he still went to work.
8. Even if Alex earned a big salary, he would not buy a fast car.
9. While she was walking I was running.
10.I won’t go to the party though I was invited.
Compound and Complex Sentence
- A compound-complex sentence is a sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Examples:
- It’s dark but we shall travel, though if it’s difficult
- When I got home, nobody was there, so I called mom who was at work.
- While Jack reads comics, James reads novels, but Rahul only reads newspaper.