Sentence Structure
What is a Sentence?
A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought or make sense.
It must have:
- A subject (who/what the sentence is about)
- A predicate (what the subject does or is).
What are clauses and phrases?
Phrase: A phrase is a group of related words that function as a single part of speech within a sentence.
It does not contain both a subject and a verb.
Examples: the blue car, running quickly, after the game.
Clause: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and it functions as one part of speech.
It can be either independent (can stand alone as a sentence) or dependent (cannot stand alone).
Examples: The cat slept (independent), because the sun was shining (dependent).
Parts of a Sentence
• Subject – The person or thing doing the action.
Example: Ali runs fast.
• Verb – What the subject does/is.
Example: Hasan goes to school. • Object – Receives the action.
Example: She reads a book.
Types of Sentence Structures
1. Simple Sentence
• It contains one independent clause (a complete sentence that contain subject and verb and can stand alone).
• It has a subject and a verb.
• Example: She reads a book.
More Examples:
• Ben forgot his homework.
• She is sleeping.
• They play football every day.
• Birds fly.
• My brother studies hard.
2. Compound Sentence
• It Contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or a semicolon (;).
• Example: He likes tea, but she prefers coffee.
More Examples:
• I wanted to go to the party, but I was sick.
• She is rich, yet she is very humble.
• You can watch TV, or you can read a book.
• It was raining, so we stayed inside.
• I’m hungry, but I don’t know what to eat.
3. Complex Sentence
• It has one independent clause + one or more dependent clauses (contains subject and verb but it cannot stand
alone) joined by a subordinating conjunction.
(subordinating conjunction: These conjunctions are used to link dependent clauses to independent clause)
• Example: She went to sleep because she was tired.
Whenever prices are high, people buy more products.
More Examples:
• I didn’t go out because it was raining.
• Although she was tired, she finished her homework.
• He studies hard so that he can pass the test.
• When the bell rang, the students left the classroom.
• I will call you after I finish my work.
4. Compound-Complex Sentence
• It has two or more independent clauses + at least one dependent clause.
• Example: I went to the park because I needed fresh air, and I stayed there for an hour.
More Examples:
• Although it was late, I finished my work, and I submitted it on time.
• She was upset because she lost her book, but she found it later.
• I stayed home because I was sick, and I watched movies all day.
• While I was cooking, my brother cleaned the room, and my sister set the table.
• He went to the store since we needed milk, but it was closed.
Common Sentence Errors
1. Fragment – Incomplete sentence
❌ Because I was tired.
✅ I slept early because I was tired.
2. Run-on Sentence – Two sentences joined without punctuation
❌ I love pizza it is my favorite food.
✅ I love pizza. It is my favorite food.
3. Comma Splice – Two sentences joined with a comma
❌ She ran fast, she won the race.
✅ She ran fast, so she won the race.
FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
