SENTENCE STRUCTURE BASICS

All sentences consist of one or more clauses. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. Some
clauses are independent, and others are dependent. For a sentence to be complete, it must contain at least one
independent clause.

INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Subject Verb

We went to the beach.

Independent Clause

A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be connected to an independent clause.

Subject Verb Subject Verb

1. When we were in Toronto, we went to the beach.

Dependent Clause Independent Clause

2. Subject Verb Subject Verb

We went to a beach which was very beautiful.

Independent Clause Dependent Clause

There are
There are different
different types
types of
of dependent
dependent clauses.
clauses. For
For more
more information,
information, please
please refer
refer to
to the
the Learning Centre’s
Dependent Clauses handout.
Learning Centre’s Dependent Clauses handout.

Page 1 of 6
SENTENCE TYPES
There are four sentence patterns: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. The different patterns are
categorized according to various combinations of independent and dependent clauses.

SIMPLE SENTENCES
The simple sentence is composed of one independent clause.

A simple sentence may have one subject and one verb.

Subject Verb

Christine studied.

A simple sentence may contain two or more subjects and/or two or more verbs.

Subjects Verb Subject Verbs

Christine and Philip studied. Christine studied and wrote.

Subjects Verbs

Christine and Philip studied and wrote.

A simple sentence may also contain phrases and other modifiers such as articles, adjectives, and adverbs.
Subjects Verbs

Yesterday, both Christine and Philip studied hard for their biology midterm and wrote essays for English.

Introductory Adjective Adverb Prepositional Phrase Direct object

word (adverb of (preposition + (noun +
time) possessive adjective + preposition +
adjective + noun) proper noun)
COMPOUND SENTENCES

The compound sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses but no dependent clauses.

There are three ways to join the independent clauses in a compound sentence:

1. Two independent clauses may be joined by a semicolon when they have an implied logical relationship.

Subject Verb Subject Verbs

Lily travelled to Europe last summer; Dan found a job and stayed in his hometown.

Semicolon

Page 2 of 6
2. Two independent clauses may be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction. The seven
coordinating conjunctions are easily remembered with the mnemonic device FANBOYS. For
And
Nor
Subject Verb Subject Verbs
But
Or
Lily travelled to Europe last summer, but Dan found a job and stayed in his hometown. Yet
So
Comma + Coordinating Conjunction

3. Two independent clauses may be joined by a semicolon, a transitional word or phrase, and a comma.

Subject Verb Subject Verbs

Lily travelled to Europe last summer; however, Dan found a job and stayed in his hometown.

Semicolon + transitional word +

comma

Here are some examples of commonly used transitional words and phrases:
However Nonetheless Accordingly
Therefore Similarly Consequently
Furthermore Undoubtedly Finally
Moreover For instance Hence
On the other hand For example Thus

COMPLEX SENTENCES

The complex sentence is composed of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

The dependent clauses may be located in any of the following positions within a complex sentence: before the
independent clause, after the independent clause, before and after the independent clause, or interrupting the
independent clause.

Comma

Dependent clause
When he finishes university, Tim hopes to move to British Columbia. located before
independent clause.
Dependent Clause Independent Clause

No Comma

Tim hopes to move to British Columbia when he finishes university. Dependent clause
located after
Independent Clause Dependent Clause independent clause.

Page 3 of 6
I read the story that you wrote. Dependent clause
located after
Independent Dependent Clause independent clause.
Clause

Comma Dependent clause

located before
While I was on the train, I read the story that you wrote. independent clause,
dependent clause
Dependent Clause Independent Dependent Clause located after
Clause independent clause.

Dependent clause
The man who interviewed me asked a lot of challenging questions. interrupting the
independent clause.
Dependent Clause

Independent
Clause

COMPOUND—COMPLEX SENTENCES

The compound-complex sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses and one or more
dependent clauses.

Until I finish my exams, I have to study every night; otherwise, I would definitely join you for the concert.
Dependent Clause Independent Clause Independent Clause

David was confused about the assignment that was due on Tuesday, so he asked his teacher for help.
Independent Clause Dependent Clause Independent Clause

We were all delighted when Catherine came home; she had been away so long!
Independent Clause Dependent Clause Independent Clause

Page 4 of 6
EXERCISES
A. Identify the subjects and verbs in the following sentences by writing an “S” above the subject and a “V”
above the verb. Identify the types of clauses by underlining independent clauses once and dependent clauses
twice. Then indicate which type of sentence each one is.

Examples:

S V S V Complex
a. Janine decided to volunteer at the Greyhound Rescue Shelter because she loves dogs.

S V S V
b. Janine loves dogs, so she decided to volunteer at the Greyhound Rescue Shelter. Compound

S V S V
c. Janine decided to volunteer at a shelter that provides a home to rescued Greyhound dogs. Complex

S V S V
d. Janine wanted to give back to her community, so she decided to volunteer at a shelter Compound
Complex
S V
that provides a home to rescued Greyhound dogs.

1. I used to have a beautiful plant by my window, but it died when I forgot to water it.

2. With lightning speed, the defenseman’s perfectly-placed slapshot blasted the puck over

the goalie’s shoulder and into the top left corner of the net.

3. The student finished his essay well before the end of the exam; nonetheless, he was exhausted

from the effort of writing and didn’t feel like editing his work.

4. My favourite movie, which I’ve seen at least five times, depicts an epic battle between

good and evil.

5. To Sam, nothing in the world could compare to the delicious gingerbread that his

grandmother prepared for Christmas each year.

6. I’ll be waiting for you in the lobby, so just come down when you’re ready.

Page 5 of 6
B. Apply your understanding of the four sentence patterns by writing sentences according to the instructions
below. Practice restating the same ideas in different ways using the sentence patterns. (See the “Example” box
on page 5.)

1. Write a simple sentence.

2. Write a compound sentence that joins the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

3. Write a compound sentence that joins the clauses with a semicolon.

4. Write a compound sentence that joins the clauses with a semicolon, a transitional word or phrase, and a comma.

5. Write a complex sentence that includes an independent clause followed by a dependent clause beginning with
because or although.

6.
Write a complex sentence that includes an independent clause interrupted by a dependent clause beginning with
who, that, or which.

7. Write a complex sentence that includes a dependent clause beginning with after, when, or while followed by an
independent clause.

8. Write a compound-complex sentence.

Page 6 of 6