Sentence Structure How do I build a better sentence?

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Sentence StructureHow do I build a better
sentence?
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Simple Sentence

• A simple sentence must contain a subject and a
  verb however, it must also make sense!

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Simple Sentence
Observe how a simple sentence is constructed
We went to Disney World.
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Simple Sentence
Pronoun
Verb
Prepositional phrase
We went to Disney World.
Simple subject
Complete predicate
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Compound Sentence

• A compound sentence is 2 independent clauses
  joined together.
• Independent clauses can be connected by a comma
  and a coordinating conjunction, a conjunctive
  adverb, or a semi-colon.

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Compound Sentence
We went to Disney World, and
we rode Space Mountain.
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Compound Sentence
Subject
Verb
Prepositional phrase
We went to Disney World,
Predicate
Coordinating Conjunction
and we rode Space Mountain.
Subject
Verb
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Compound Sentences

• My parents caught a severe cold consequently,
  they had to cancel their vacation.
• Some people like basketball others prefer
  baseball.

Conjunctive Adverb
Semi-colon
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Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence has at least two parts one
  that can stand alone (independent clause) and
  another one that cannot stand alone
  (dependent/subordinate clause)
• The part that cannot stand alone is linked to the
  rest of the sentence by a subordinating
  conjunction.

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Complex Sentence
Since my husband and I wanted to have fun,
we went to El Rio yesterday.
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Complex Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
Part that cannot stand alone
Subordinating Conjunction
Subject
Predicate
we went to El Rio yesterday.
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Common Subordinating Conjunctions

• Before
• Even though
• If
• Since
• Though
• Unless
• Until
• When
• Where

• After
• Although
• Because
• As
• As if
• As long as
• As soon as
• As though

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More words that introduce dependent clauses
(These are sneaky! They like to interrupt!)

• Who
• Whom/Whomever
• That
• Which/ Whichever
• How
• Why
• What/Whatever

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Sneaky Dependent Clauses

• The great American author Edgar Allen Poe who
  wrote The Raven is still celebrated today.

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Sneaky Dependent Clauses
Relative Pronoun

• The great American author Edgar Allen Poe ltwho
• Independent Clause
• wrote The Ravengt is still celebrated today.
• Independent Clause Continued

Dependent Clause
Dependent Clause Continued
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Compound-Complex Sentence

• This type of sentence has at least 2 independent
  clauses (can stand alone) and 1 or more dependent
  clauses (cannot stand alone).
• In the next example, notice how the different
  conjunctions link the different parts of this
  sentence

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Compound-Complex Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
my husband and I went to El Rio yesterday,
and we ate burritos.
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Compound-Complex Sentence
Subordinating Conjunction
Since we wanted to have fun,
Dependent clause
my husband and I went to El Rio,
Independent clause
Coordinating Conjunction
and we ate burritos.
Independent Clause
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Thank You

• Center for Language Development Across the
  Disciplines
• Prepared by Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago
• Coordinator for the Center for Languages
  and Cultures
• April-June 2003
• Revised by Patricia Kidd
• August 2004
• Revised by Prof. Delia Serrano
• January 2005
• Revised by Brandy Phillips
• November 8, 2010