Sentence Structure

Simple Sentences

  • A sentence that has one subject and one verb. Expresses a single thought and functions alone.

    • E.g. The cat purrs.

Compound Sentence

  • Joins two simple sentences together through the use of conjunctions

    • E.g. I like ice cream, but I don’t like cake.

Complex Sentence

  • A simple sentence with a conjunction and a dependent clause attached to it.

    • E.g. I like to read because it helps me learn new things.

Compound-Complex Sentence

  • A mix of different sentences. Has more than one action and includes extra information.

    • E.g. I like to read, and when it rains, I stay indoors.

Coordinating Conjunctions

  • Coordinating conjunctions join like with like

    • Include: for, and, nor, but ,or, yes, so

      • E.g. Ned is a fast but unmotivated horse.

Subordinating Conjunctions

  • Words or phrases that connect a dependent clause to an independent clause to create a complex sentence

Time

  1. When

  2. Before

  3. After

  4. While

  5. Until

Place

  1. Where

  2. Wherever

  3. Anywhere

  4. Everywhere

Reason

  1. Because

  2. Since

  3. For

  4. Now that

  5. Seeing that

Condition

  1. If

  2. Unless

  3. Even if

  4. In case

  5. Only if

Contrast

  1. although

  2. though

  3. even though

  4. whereas

  5. despite

Purpose

  1. so that

  2. in order that

  3. for the purpose that

  4. With the aim that