Sentence Structure
Quick Reference Guide
Dr. Precious Prothro, Ed.D
2016
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What is this presentation about?
This quick reference guide contains the
things you need to know about
sentences.
If you study this information and apply it
to your writing, you will see a great
improvement in your writing style.
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Types of Clauses
 A clause is a group of words that contain a
subject and a predicate. (The other words of the
clause will help you determine the type of
clause.)
 We will learn and discuss four types of clauses:
 Main Clause
 Relative Clause
 Subordinate Clause
 Noun Clause
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Main & Subordinate Clauses
 Main clause =subject + predicate + complete thought
Ex. Mary ran.
*Mary is the subject.
*ran is the predicate.
*Those two words make a complete thought.
*Also called a simple sentence or independent clause
 Subordinate clause (also called a dependent clause)
 Subordinate conjunction + subject + verb (predicate) + no
complete thought
Ex. Although it was her birthday,…
*If a clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, it is
considered an adverb clause.
*If a subordinate clause is at the beginning of a sentence, 20
it MUST be followed by a comma. © 2016 teachingstudents2reach.weebly.com
Subordinate Conjunctions
 A subordinate conjunction joins a dependent (subordinate) clause to a
main (independent) clause. Below is a list of the most common
subordinating conjunctions.
 Special Note: Some of the words in the chart may be used as a different
part of speech. So, the key is to see if there is a subject and a predicate
behind the word. If no subject and/or predicate is behind the word, the
word is not a subordinate conjunction.
After
As
How
Inasmuch
Although
Until
If
As if
When
Now that
Whenever
Where
As long as
As soon as
As much as
Provided
that
As though
Before
So that
than
Since
However
while
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Unless
In order
that
Lest
Wherever
Because
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Relative Clauses
 Relative Clause (sometimes is referred to as a subordinate or
dependent clause)
Ex. The children who were playing at recess were scared.
*Relative pronoun (or an adverb) + verb/predicate + no
complete thought
*If a clause begins with a relative pronoun, it is considered an
adjective clause.
Relative pronouns are used to link a relative clause to another part of a sentence and has
the job of introducing the relative clause because it “relates” to the word it is modifying.
Here is the list of the most common relative pronouns:
Who
Which
Whom
That
Whomever/Whoever
Whichever
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Noun Clause
 a clause that plays the role of a noun; it is a
dependent clause
Ex. I like what I see. (“what I see” is a noun
clause.)
*Replace “what I see” with a cakes and you will
understand.
© 2003 J. Weston Walch, Publisher
Sentence Structure
A single adult can live alone and take care of him or herself. He or
she represents an independent clause or a simple sentence.
A simple sentence or an independent clause=subject + predicate
+ complete thought. (Ex. I love football.)
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Sentence Structure

A couple represents a compound sentence. Two independent
clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOY) or a semicolon.
Ex. I love football and I love basketball.
Ex. I love football; she loves basketball.
*For
*And
*Nor
*But
*Or
*Yet
*So
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Sentence Structure

A child cannot live alone; he or she must have an adult to
survive. The child represents a dependent clause. Therefore,
an adult (independent clause) and a child (dependent clause)
create a complex sentence.
Ex. Although I love basketball, football is my favorite sport.
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Sentence Structure

A couple and a child represent a compound-complex sentence
because there are two independent clauses and at least one
dependent.
Ex. I love football and I love basketball even though I am a
female.
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Relative Pronouns
 Special Note: Two things that can be confusing are knowing when to use who and when
to use whom and knowing when to use that or who.
 Use the relative pronouns who and whoever if you are referring to the subject of the
sentence.
Ex:The earthquake shook the children who were playing at recess.
 Use whom and whomever if you’re referring to the objects of a verb or preposition.
Ex. Mary through the ball to Sam.
*So, if I asked about the situation, I would say, “To whom did Mary throw the ball”
because Sam is the one receiving the ball, not the one throwing the ball.
 Special Note: Like whom, the pronoun him ends with the letter M. When you are trying
to decide whether or not to use who or whom, ask yourself if the hypothetical answer to the
question would contain he or him. If it’s him, you use whom. (GrammarGirl).
 Use who when the noun that you are referencing is a person. (see the example for a.)
 Use that when the noun you are referencing is not a person or is a group.
Ex:The earthquake shook the windows that were opened.
Ex. Sonya played on the team that won the championship.
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