Sentence Structure Notes
Simple Sentence
Has a subject, verb, and usually some type of clause or phrase attached.
Simple sentence = Independent clause
Example: I rode the bus home this afternoon.
Structure:
________________________________
Independent clause
Compound Sentence
Has two independent clauses put together with either a semi-colon (;) or a comma and
a coordinate conjunction (FANBOYS – for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
Example: I rode the bus home this afternoon; I listened to music.
I rode the bus home this afternoon, and I listened to music.
Structure:
________________________;_________________________.
Independent clause
Independent clause
or
_____________________, CC ______________________.
Independent clause
Independent clause
Complex Sentence
Has a dependent clause that starts with a subordinate conjunction, an independent
clause, and a comma after the dependent clause if the dependent clause is used at the
beginning of the sentence.
Example: After I rode the bus home this afternoon, I listened to music.
I listened to music after I rode the bus home this afternoon.
Structure:
_SC____________________ , _____________________.
Dependent clause
Independent clause
or
_____________________ __SC______________________.
Independent clause
Dependent clause
Subordinate conjunctions- AAAWWUBBIS
(after, although, as, when, while, until before, because, if, since)