Sentences Structure Presented By: Rushda AshrafEnglish Language Instructor

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

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.

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.

The Four Sentence Structures• There are mainly four sentence structures:

Simple sentences

Complex sentences

Compound sentences

Compound- complex sentences

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.

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.

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.

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

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”.

Have A Nice Day