1. Sentences Classified by Structure

2. Clause
A group of words that contains a verb and its subject and is used as part of a sentence.
EX:
Sentence – Lichens are small plants that are composed of both fungi and algae.
Clause – Lichens are small plants.
Clause – that are composed of both fungi and algae.

3. Independent Clause
An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
EX: Lichens are small plants.
English is fun.
Teachers like to give good grades.

4. Subordinate Clause
A subordinate clause (or dependent) does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
EX: that we collected
what Karina named her pet goldfish
when Rudy proofread his essay

5. Simple Sentence Has one independent clause and no subordinate clauses.
EX: Karla taught Adriana how to play the piano.
Tasha is an endangered species.
Sean and Tepper like to eat spaghetti.

6. Compound Sentences
Has two or more independent clauses but no subordinate clauses.
EX: Jerry’s story sounded incredible, but it was true.
Edgar Allen Poe was a gothic writer; his poems and short stories dealt with death and dying.

7. Complex Sentences
Has one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
EX: Mrs. Anna Merriman, who was an excellent counselor at Thousand Oaks High School, became principal at MHS in 1999.
While we were at the movies, my mom cleaned my bedroom.

8. Compound-Complex Sentences
Has two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.
EX: The two eyewitnesses told the police what they saw, but their accounts of the accident were much different.
Chelsea is only seven years old, but she can already play the violin better than her tutor.