Phrases, Clauses, and Sentence Types Sentence Structure Phrases, Clauses, and Sentence Types

Sentence types There are four major sentence types in English: Simple Sentences Compound Sentences Complex Sentences Compound-Complex Sentences All are combinations of independent and dependent clauses, plus the phrases associated with those clauses.

Simple sentence Simple sentences are composed of ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and the PHRASES necessary to the idea expressed I like chocolate. Dylan ran to school. In the heat of the night, Rita got up for a drink of water.

Compound sentences Compound sentences are sentences that have TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES and their associated PHRASES joined by a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION. Coordinating conjunctions include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (acronym – FANBOYS) I love chocolate yet I hate chocolate-covered almonds. I love chocolate , yet I hate chocolate-covered almonds. Rohan rides his bike to school and Lachlan drives. Rohan rides his bike to school and Lachlandrives.

Complex Sentences Complex sentences include ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and ONE DEPENDENT CLAUSE and their associated phrases. If you come over early, we can have lunch first. When my grandmother baked gingerbread cookies for us to take home, my sister and I used to throw them out of the car window on the 401.

Complex-compound sentences Just as the name implies, a complex-compound sentence is the combination of ONE DEPENDENT CLAUSE with a COMPOUND SENTENCE (two INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined by a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION) and their associated PHRASES.(AAAWWWUUBBIS) This is the longest type of sentence that can be formed in English. Adding more clauses will result in sentence errors. When I go to Montreal, I visit my family and I go to Schwartz’s for a smoked meat sandwich.

Sentence errors If you create a sentence that does not fit one of these paradigms, you have probably created a sentence error. Sentence errors include: Sentence Fragments Comma Splices Run-on Sentences Fused Sentences

Sentence fragments A sentence fragment is any group of words that has a capital at the beginning and a period at the end that does not contain a subject and a predicate and which does not form a complete thought. Two commons causes of sentence fragments: Phrases meant to be attached to the previous sentence are written as their own sentences Dependent clauses are written as their own sentences E.g. “Like the three little pigs and Little Red Riding Hood.” E.g. “Which Eileen told them not to do.”

Run-on sentences A run-on sentence is one in which two or more independent clauses are joined inappropriately. The term “Run-on Sentence” includes both comma splices and fused sentences. Often this term is used more specifically for sentences that have three or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions. E.g. “I like ice cream so I went to the store to buy some, but the store didn’t have any left, so I had had to take the bus to the mall to get some, and then I was late for work.” FIX: I like ice cream and went to the store to get some; however, the store was out of chocolate ice cream, so I had to go to the mall. After all the running around I did, I was late for work.”

Comma splices A comma splice is the joining of two independent clauses with a comma. (Note: splice = join) In some languages, like Spanish, this is perfectly acceptable, but in English it is not. In English sentences must be joined by conjunctions, semi-colons, or colons. E.g. “I like chocolate ice cream, I eat it every other day.” FIX: “I like chocolate ice cream; I eat it every other day.” FIX: “I like chocolate ice cream, so I eat it every other day.” FIX: “Because I like chocolate ice cream, I eat it every other day.”

Fused sentences Fused sentences are ones that include more than one independent clause but which have no punctuation or conjunctions at all. This error can be corrected using the same strategies that are used to correct comma splices. E.g. “I like ice cream I eat it every other day.” FIX: “I like ice cream, so I eat it every other day.”

Can you spot the error(s)? Mr. Dress-up’s class is the best, I always learn something from him. ERROR: Comma Splice

Can you spot the error(s)? Allandra is tall enough to reach the top shelf I don’t think you are. ERROR: Fused Sentence

Can you spot the error(s)? A long time ago in a country far, far away. ERROR: Sentence Fragment

Can you spot the error(s)? Although I wanted to come to the party, I could not make it, I had to go to my grandmother’s house. ERROR: Comma Splice

Can you spot the error(s)? The dog ate my homework and my little sister flushed my cell phone down the toilet and my bus pass disappeared, I was having a bad day. ERRORS: Run-on Sentence and Comma Splice