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Variety of Sentence Structures

In writing or identifying sentences, we use the following
formulas:
Simple Sentence = one Independent Clause_
Four Sentence Formulas
SV (one subject, one verb)
SVV (one subject, two verbs)
SSV (two subjects, one verb)
SSVV (two subjects, two verbs)
Compound Sentence: Two Sentence Formulas
1) I,cI (Independent Clause comma coordinating
Conjunction Independent Clause)
2) I;I (Independent Clause semicolon Independent
Clause)
Complex Sentence: Two Sentence Formulas
1) D,I (Dependent Clause-comma-Independent Clause)
2) I dc D (Independent Clause-dependent conjunctionDependent Clause)
*Dependent Clause = Subordinate Clause = Fragment*

Compound-Complex Sentence: Six Sentence Formulas

1) D,I,cI
3) IdcD,cI
5) I,cIdcD
2) D,I;I
4) IdcD;I
6) I;IdcD

Remember: A Compound-Complex Sentence is just that: One

Compound Sentence formula before or after a Complex Sentence
Formula!

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A clause is a word group used as a complete sentence (Independent clause)
or as an incomplete sentence/fragment = Subordinate clause - aka:
Dependent clause.
An independent clause is a group of words that contains at least one subject
and one verb and can stand alone. (It makes a
complete thought)
Simple Sentence:
A simple sentence is a group of words with one independent clause. A
simple sentence may contain a single subject and a single verb, a compound
subject and a single verb, a single subject and a compound verb, or a
compound subject and a compound verb. The sentence must be complete (no
words left out) in order to be scored as a simple sentence.
****** Subjects are underlined with ONE line and verbs are underlined with TWO lines******

Examples
s v
The boy ran to the store (SV)
s
s v
The boy and girl ran in a relay race (SSV)
s
v
v
Kevin went to the party and had a
wonderful time. (SVV)
s
s
v
v
Sally and Susan are friends and play
together often. (SSVV)

Explanation
(Simple sentence with single
subject and single verb)
(Simple sentence with
compound subject, single verb)
(Simple sentence with single
subject, compound verb)

(Simple sentence with

compound subject , compound
verb)

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Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses.
In order to be scored as a compound sentence, two independent clauses must
be joined either by a comma and coordinating conjunction or by a semicolon.
(NO subordinating clauses Dependent clauses in a compound sentence)
A Coordinating Conjunction is always has a comma before it, and can be
remembered as:
FAN BOYS
, for , and, ,nor
,but ,or , yet ,so
Examples*

Explanation*

The boy ran to the store, and he

bought some apples. (I,cI)

(Compound sentence with a comma and

a coordinating conjunction (,and)
separating the two independent
clauses.)

Angles and devils came to the

costume party; they got along
fine. (I;I)

(Compound sentence with a semicolon

(;) followed by a pronoun,
separating the independent clauses)

*A Semicolon (;) in a Compound Sentence is always followed by the word

the, a noun, or a pronoun which begins the second Independent Clause. *
; the
; noun (person, place, thing, quality or idea)
; pronoun (it, she, he, them, us etc.)

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Complex Sentence
A Complex Sentence consists of one independent clause and one or
more dependent clauses. Each clause must have a subject and a verb. A
dependent clause must include a subordinating word (dependent conjunction),
a subject and a verb.
Subordinate / dependent clause = Fragment sentence. It cannot stand
alone It needs an independent clause either before it or after it.
Two complex sentence formulas: D,I
I dc D
Common Subordinate (Dependent) Conjunction Words: (dc)
after
even if
since
although
even though
so that
as
if
than
as if
in order that
though
as long as
just as
unless
as soon as
like
until
as though
once
when
because
provided
whenever
before
rather than
while

** Dependent Conjunction words can be at the beginning of a complex sentence or in the middle**

The dependent clause in a complex sentence may be an adverb clause, an adjective clause, or
a noun clause.
Complex Sentences with adverb clauses- An adverb clause tells when, why, how, where,
under what conditions, or with what result an action took place. The adverb clause my come
before or after the independent clause.

Examples*

Explanation*

Because baseball involves so much

strategy, it is my dads favorite
sport. (D, I)

(Complex sentence with the

dependent clause first and a
comma separating the clauses.)

Baseball is my dads favorite sport

because it involves so much strategy.
(I dc D)

(Complex sentence with the

Independent clause first. NO
COMMA is required to separate
the clauses) Used a Dep. Conj.

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Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence consists of two or more independent
clauses and at least one dependent clause.
*Remember*: A Compound-Complex Sentence is just that: One Compound
Sentence formula before or after a Complex Sentence Formula.*
Examples*

Explanation*

After the party was over, Jean had

a headache, so Paul cleaned up the mess.
(D,I,cI)

(A dependent clause (beginning

with a dc) followed by two
independent clauses. -with
comma and conjunction: ,so)

Jean had a headache after the party

was over, so Paul cleaned up the house.
(I dc D, I)

(An independent clause followed

by a dependent clause (dc) and
an independent clause. -with
comma and conjunction: ,so)

Jean had a headache, so Paul cleaned up

the house after the party was over.
(I,cI dc D)

(An independent clause-with

comma and conjunction: ,so.
Followed by an independent
clause and a dependent clause.)

Although it was snowing, Floyd

planned to go to the game; Helen
wanted to stay home. (D,I;I)

(An dependent clause followed

by two independent clauses.)