Sentence

Structures
Simple, Compound,
and Complex
Sentences

Simple Sentence

It can stand alone as a sentence because it

expresses a complete thought.
It includes at least one subject (S) and a
verb (V).
It may have more than one subject or verb.
It is also called an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
because it can stand alone as a sentence.
We will use the symbol I to represent it.

Simple Sentences
To begin, label the sentence with the
subject(s) and verb(s).
To determine the subject ask yourself,
Who or what is this sentence about?
To determine the verb, ask yourself,
What about the subject or what is it
doing?

Simple Sentences
S
V
SV - John walked the dog around
the block.
S
V
V
SVV - John walked the dog and fed
him dinner.

Simple Sentence Structures

S
S V
SSV John and Liz walked the dog.
S S V
John and Liz walked the dog

SSVV
and
V
fed him.

Simple Sentence Practice

Label the subjects and verbs to
determine if a sentence is a SV, SSV,
SVV, or SSVV.
S V
A sneeze can travel as fast as 100 miles
and hour.
S
SV
A cow and horse do not have the same
type of hooves.

Simple Sentence Practice

S
V
Each second the brain receives and
V
translates 100 million nerve messages
from
your body.

Simple Sentences

REMEMBER
Even though there may
be more than one
subject or verb, it is still
a simple sentence.

Simple Sentences
REVIEW

A simple sentence is also known as an

independent clause (I).
A sentence (independent clause) may be
made up of:
SV or
SVV or
SSV or
SSVV

Compound Sentences
We can create a formula to represent
compound sentences.
If I = Independent Clause (simple sentence),
Then:

I, (conj) I

Compound Sentences

Coordinating conjunctions (Conj) may

be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

Compound Sentences
2 simple sentences joined by a COMMA
and a FANBOYS word (coordinating
conjunction).
Examples:
S
V
S V
John walked the dog, and Liz fed him
later.
S S
V
S V
John and Liz walked the dog, but Liz fed
him.

Compound Sentences

Label the sentences with the subjects and

verbs and underline the FANBOYS word.
Dont forget to add the comma.
S
V
S

1. Ships in bottles fascinate me

but I
V
never understood them.

Compound Sentence
Practice
S V
2. The ship fits in the bottle or the
SV
bottle fits around the ship.
SV
3. The ships are in the bottles but the
SV
bottles have no seams.

Compound Sentence
Practice
S V

S V

4.Once Jack built a ship, and I watched.

SV
S
5.He carved a hull from soft wood, and
I
V
followed his every move.

Compound sentence
practice
S
V
6.The masts were thin sticks, and
S
V
the rigging was thread.
S

7.Then Jack loosened a string, and

S
V
the rigging toppled forward.

Compound Sentence
practice
SV
8.He gently slid the boat into the
bottle,
S V
and I held the string tightly.
S
V
9.Then I pulled the string firmly, and
S
V
Jack hooked it into place.