Sentence Structures

clause: group of words, contains subject & verb

• independent clause: can stand alone as its own sentence

  • include simple sentences: one independent clause

  • includes compound sentences: two or more independent clauses

    • joined by coordinating conjunctions: FAN BOYS

      • for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

• dependent clause: cannot stand as sentence

phrase: group of words without both a subject or verb

complex sentences: contain one independent clause & one or more dependent clauses

• subordinating conjunctions:

  • because, which, since, that

compound-complex sentences: two independent clauses & one or more dependent clauses

loose/cumulative sentences: independent clause & list of grammatical units (phrases/dependent clauses) — minimum of three

periodic sentences: list/dependent clauses first, then the independent clause