15 minute read
Sentence Structures
from 89251 Booklet
by MM PRINT
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: Part One
Overview
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There are FOUR sentence structures: Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound Complex.
Simple
Simple sentences have one subject and one predicate. The subject is the topic of the sentence (or what the sentence is about). The predicate is the rest of the sentence (it contains the verb and shares information about the subject).
EXAMPLES:
The students and the tutor asked the instructor many questions. Subject Predicate
The students quickly asked the instructor many questions and waited for answers. Subject Predicate
The students and the tutor asked the instructor many questions and waited for answers. Subject Predicate
IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: What is a clause?
A simple sentence is actually the same as an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (one subject and one predicate). A CLAUSE is a group of words that work together and is comprised of a subject and a predicate. The difference between CLAUSE and SIMPLE SENTENCE is this: Not all clauses convey a complete thought, but all simple sentences do convey a complete thought.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (CAN stand alone) Noah built a tremendous ark.
SUBJECT: Noah PREDICATE: built a tremendous ark Notice that this clause looks exactly like a simple sentence. The thought is complete.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE (CANNOT stand alone)
When Noah built a tremendous ark. SUBJECT: Noah PREDICATE: built a tremendous ark Notice that this clause needs MORE INFORMATION. The thought is incomplete because of the opening word “when” which is a subordinate conjunction.
Compound
Compound sentences have TWO (or more) Independent Clauses (two or more “simple sentences”). Compound sentences can “break” apart and each part makes sense by itself.
EXAMPLES:
The students asked many questions, and the instructor answered each one.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ONE INDPENDENT CLAUSE TWO
Subject: The students Subject: the instructor
Predicate: asked many questions Predicate: answered each one
The students and the tutor asked the instructor questions and the instructor answered.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ONE INDPENDENT CLAUSE TWO
Subject: The students and the tutor Subject: the instructor
Predicate: asked the instructor questions Predicate: answered
The students asked questions and waited for answers; the instructor answered each one.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ONE INDPENDENT CLAUSE TWO
Subject: The students Subject: the instructor
Predicate: asked questions Predicate: answered each one and waited for answers
The students and tutor asked questions and waited for answers; the instructor paused and
then answered each one. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE ONE INDPENDENT CLAUSE TWO
Subject: The students and tutor Subject: the instructor
Predicate: asked many questions Predicate: paused and then and waited for answers answered each one
Think
Check your understanding…
Instructions: Determine if each sentence is simple or compound. Answers are at the bottom of the page. 1. God is our refuge and strength and a very present help during trouble. 2. We are encouraged to have faith, hope, and love, but the greatest is love. 3. We must keep the faith, and we will finish the race. 4. Children should honor their mother and father.
Simple 2. Compound 3. Compound 4. SimpleAnswers: 1.
There are different ways to punctuate a compound sentence. If you know the various ways, you have a tool that you can use so that your writing will have variety.
EXAMPLES:
1. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. 2. All of us prayed for our pastor; he is doing much better. 3. Our pastor was very ill; however, he was restored to complete health.
1.
COMMA + COORDINATE CONJUNCTION (FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, YET, SO) F-A-N-B-O-Y-S
Independent Clause 2.
SEMICOLON (ONLY IF IDEAS ARE CLOSELY RELATED)
Independent Clause
3.
SEMICOLON + CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB + COMMA (however, therefore, thus, instead…) There are many more conjunctive adverbs.
ONE MORE THING: A compound sentence is actually two simple sentences (two independent clauses) that are joined together in one sentence. Of course, you can separate your compound sentence (your two independent clauses) into two separate simple sentences.
EXAMPLES:
1. The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. 2. All of us prayed for our pastor. He is doing much better. 3. Our pastor was very ill. He was restored to complete health.
NOTE: Later in this workbook, we will review commas a bit more.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: Part Two
Overview
There are FOUR sentence structures: Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex. We have looked at Simple and Compound sentences; now, we will look at Complex and Compound-Complex sentences.
Complex Complex sentences have one INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and one or more DEPENDENT CLAUSES.
REMEMBER: Independent Clauses CAN stand alone; Dependent Clauses CANNOT stand alone (DEPENDENT CLAUSES open with a subordinate conjunction, such as when, after, because, since, although. More subordinate conjunctions are listed later.)
EXAMPLE COMPLEX SENTENCES:
When the students asked the instructor many questions, he answered each one. Dependent Clause Independent Clause
The students and the tutor asked several questions because everyone was confused. Independent Clause Dependent Clause
The essays that the instructor graded were beautifully written.
Independent Clause: The essays were beautifully written.
Dependent Clause: that the instructor graded
NOTE: Subordinate conjunctions are underlined.
As soon as the math class ended, several students paused to pray for their friend because he missed school due to illness. Dependent Clause: As soon as the math class ended
Independent clause: several students paused to pray for their friend
Dependent Clause: because he missed school due to illness
IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: POSITION OF THE DEPENDENT CLAUSE
The dependent clause can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. The placement of the dependent clause will impact comma use. In general, if the dependent clause is before the independent clause and they are working together, then there will be a comma after the dependent clause.
CompoundComplex
Compound-Complex Sentences have TWO (or more) Independent Clauses (two or more “simple sentences”) and ONE (or more) Dependent Clauses.
EXAMPLE COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES:
When the students asked questions, the instructor answered a them, but the tutor asked a
few more questions. Independent Clause One Independent Clause Two the instructor answered them the tutor asked a few more questions
Dependent Clause When the students asked questions
When the students asked questions, the instructor whom the advisor recommended answered
the questions, but the tutor asked a few more questions. Independent Clause One Independent Clause Two the instructor answered the questions the tutor asked a few more questions
Dependent Clause One Dependent Clause Two When the students asked questions whom the advisor recommended
Think
Check your understanding…
Instructions: Determine if each sentence is complex or compoundcomplex. Answers are at the bottom of the page.
1. Everyone should memorize the Ten Commandments which God put in place to show humanity what sin is. 2. We should all look forward to Heaven which is one eternal moment of joy, peace, and satisfaction. 3. God gives everyone who comes to Him a spiritual gift, and we should use our gift to help other believers in Christ. 4. Disappointments in our lives are inevitable, but discouragement which everybody faces is a choice.
-Complex Compound -Complex 4. Answers: 1. Complex 2. Complex 3. Compound
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: EXERCISE 1
Instructions PART A:
Read the following sentences and identify the number of independent clauses and the number of dependent clauses (if any) in each sentence.
REMEMBER: Look for the SUBJECTS and PREDICATES that work together and then determine if they can stand alone (independent clause) or cannot stand alone (dependent clause). EXAMPLE: I have been studying about clauses which are easy.
1 _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
1. The students were tired of the loudly clanging fire drill bells. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
1
2. Unfortunately, one of the students decided to pull the fire alarm and yell, “Fire!” _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
3. A campus security guard arrested this irreverent student because yelling “Fire!” in a crowded building is against the law. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
4. As a result of these shenanigans, the police came, and the campus was on the six o’clock news. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
5. The student was terribly embarrassed by the whole affair, and he apologized. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
6. The student and his sister who graduated last year from the same school placed an ad in the newspaper and ultimately found work in ministry as worship leaders. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
7. In all reality, they belonged in worship ministry since they were very talented musicians. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
8. Unfortunately, the pranks that he pulled in the past got him into serious trouble several times, but the fire prank was the last time. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
9. His pranks made an impression on others who will always remember him. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
10.I hope that he continues to be a good person and remembers not to cause problems for other people. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
11.After someone has learned such a serious lesson, he or she should try to help others learn from their mistakes. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
12.The Bible is filled with the stories of hope, love, forgiveness, and faithfulness, as well as so many other helpful points from which people learn. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
13.When you read the Bible, you will want to read it more and more. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
14.After reading the Bible, you should feel renewed. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
15.It is good to start the day by reading the Bible. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
16.Praying to God and reading His word daily can improve one’s emotional and psychological state. _____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
Instructions PART B:
In Part A, you determined the number and types of clauses for each sentence. Now in Part B, you are asked to identify the sentence type (SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX, or COMPOUND-COMPLEX).
REMEMBER:
Simple Sentence = ONE independent clause Compound Sentence = TWO or more independent clauses Complex Sentence = ONE independent and ONE or more dependent clauses Compound-Complex Sentence = TWO or more independent clauses and ONE or more dependent clauses.
EXAMPLE: I have been studying about clauses which are easy.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
1. The students were tired of the loudly clanging fire drill bells.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
2. Unfortunately, one of the students decided to pull the fire alarm and yell, “Fire!”
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
3. A campus security guard arrested this irreverent employee because yelling “Fire!” in a crowded building is against the law.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
4. As a result of these shenanigans, the police came, and the campus was on the six o’clock news.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
5. The student was terribly embarrassed by the whole affair, and he apologized.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
6. The student and his sister who graduated last year from the same school placed an ad in the newspaper and ultimately found work in ministry as worship leaders.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
7. In all reality, they belonged in worship ministry since they were very talented musicians.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
8. Unfortunately, the pranks that he pulled in the past got him into serious trouble several times, but the fire prank was the last time.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
9. His pranks made an impression on other people who will always remember him.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
10.I hope that he continues to be a good person and remembers not to cause problems for other people.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
11.After someone has learned such a serious lesson, he or she should try to help others learn from their mistakes.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
12.The Bible is filled with the stories of hope, love, forgiveness, and faithfulness, as well as so many other helpful points from which people learn.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
13.When you read the Bible, you will want to read it more and more
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
14.After reading the Bible, you should feel renewed.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
15.It is good to start the day by reading the Bible.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
16.Praying to God and reading His word daily can improve one’s emotional and psychological state.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: EXERCISE 2
Instructions
Read the following paragraph and identify the sentence structures (SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX, or COMPOUND-COMPLEX) for each sentence.
REMEMBER:
Simple Sentence = ONE independent clause Compound Sentence = TWO or more independent clauses Complex Sentence = ONE independent and ONE or more dependent clauses Compound-Complex Sentence = TWO or more independent clauses and ONE or more dependent clauses
Languages: A Revelation of God’s Hand
1As one of the most widely spoken tone languages in the world today, Mandarin Chinese has over 900 million speakers around the world. 2Tone languages use pitch changes to show the differences in words. 3 In Mandarin, there are four tones (Tone 1, Tone 2, Tone 3, and Tone 4), and these tones are distinguished by their contour or shape and the range of pitch. 4 However, researchers point out that there are two issues that may make it difficult for someone to discern the four given tones in Mandarin. 5There are some instances when Mandarin speech is continuous; thus, for example, Tone 2 and Tone 3 are often difficult for some speakers to tell apart. 6Because Tone 2 and Tone 3 both end with a RISE at the end, the listeners (even native Mandarin speakers) often have to depend on other parts of the conversation to determine what the speaker means. 7Mandarin can be a difficult language for an English speaker to learn as an adult. 8In fact, Mandarin can be a difficult language for anyone who speaks a first language that does not use tones. 9However, speakers whose first language utilizes tones (for example, Korean, Vietnamese, or Yoruba) may also have problems in learning a language that does not have the same type of tone system that their original language has. 10The vast differences in the many world languages are another testimony to the greatness of God. 11The marvelous hand of God is so clear in so many ways. 12It really should be impossible for anyone to see otherwise.
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
2. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
3. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
4. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
5. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
6. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
7. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
8. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
9. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
10. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
11. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
12. Number of Independent clauses_____ Number of Dependent Clauses_____
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: EXERCISE 3
Instructions Read the following sentences and identify the number of independent clauses and the number of dependent clauses (if any) in each sentence.
(REMEMBER: Look for the SUBJECTS and PREDICATES that work together and then determine if they can stand alone [independent clause] or not [dependent clause]).
Next, identify the sentence structure type. REMEMBER:
Simple Sentence = ONE independent clause Compound Sentence = TWO or more independent clauses Complex Sentence = ONE independent and ONE or more dependent clauses Compound-Complex Sentence = TWO or more independent clauses and ONE or more dependent clauses
1. A few years ago, a few scientists made an interesting discovery.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
2. Some scientists claim that the sounds in languages spoken around the world indicate that southern Africa could be the home of modern language.
____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
3. Africa is where some scientists believe that the Garden of Eden is located.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
4. The Garden of Eden is where God placed Adam and Eve when He created them, and
He gave them authority over the animals.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
5. It would thus make sense that modern language began where humanity began.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
6. To make this observation, various linguists looked for patterns of phonemes in language.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
7. A linguist is someone who either speaks various languages or studies linguistics which is the scientific study of language.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
8. Phonemes are the simplest elements of language including consonants, vowels, and tones.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
9. These scientists applied a mathematical method to linguistics and found a pattern in 500 of the languages spoken throughout the world.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
10.When a language is far away from Africa, where some people believe that God first placed humanity, then the phonemes in that language are less diverse.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
11.Scientists see this same pattern in genetics.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
12.Although this position is very compelling, many other linguists have several important arguments against this discovery.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
13. There are over 6,000 known languages in the world, so to draw a conclusion from a pattern based on a mere 500 languages may not necessarily be good science.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
14.However, the amazing diversity in languages and genetics and the idea that they point to one specific origin help to substantiate that there is one originator—our
Creator, God.
_____INDEPENDENT CLAUSES _____ DEPENDENT CLAUSES
SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX COMPOUND-COMPLEX
Select one of the sentences (all of which are declarative) and rewrite it as an interrogative sentence.
Select one of the sentences (all of which are declarative) and rewrite it as an imperative sentence.
