Sentence Structure

 In English there are many different ways in which a sentence can be structured.  This year you will learn some of the main sentence types and the parts which they are made of.

 The different sections or parts of a sentence are called clauses. There are two different kinds of clause;  Main clause: This is a clause which ALWAYS contains a subject and a verb. It expresses a complete thought. It makes sense without the additional parts of the sentence.  Dependent clause: This clause can also contain both a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. This is a part of a sentence which does not make sense without the other parts of the sentence.

 Some examples of main clauses  Diane kicked the door.  The giant spider lives on the ceiling.  Some examples of dependent clauses  When John went home  If we knew what we were doing  Although the opposition played well

 A minor sentence is sometimes also known as an incomplete sentence.  A minor sentence is one without a verb.  America, of all places.  Hello.  Headings are often minor sentences.

 A simple sentence is essentially one main clause.  It is a sentence with a subject, a verb and contains a complete thought.  The cat sat on the mat.  The Breakers won the final.  I went to the shops.  Some students like to study in the evenings.

 A compound sentence is two main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.  There are 7 coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so- FANBOYS).  Jack played soccer, so Annie went shopping.  It was a cold day, but the sun was shining.  My cat is small, and my dog is big.

 A complex sentence is a main clause joined by one or more dependent clauses.  Complex sentences usually contain a subordinator (usually a conjunction e.g. although, because, since, after, when)  When she handed in her homework, she forgot to write her name on it.  After they finished studying, the girls went to the movies.

 Two or more main clauses joined with one or more dependent clause.  E.g “The All Blacks scored 100 points and they won the match, although the opposition played valiantly.”