1. Sentence Structure Notes
7th English

2. Overview a clause contains both a subject and a verb
Sentence Structure is how a sentence is set up.
Sentence structure is important because we need sentence variety. Nobody likes writing that is boring and dull, and we want to avoid run-on sentences and fragments.
There are three important points to remember with sentence structure:
a clause contains both a subject and a verb
an independent clause is a sentence
a dependent (subordinate) clause cannot stand alone

3. 1) Simple Sentence
Definition: A simple sentence is one independent clause.
A simple sentence has one subject verb pair.
Picture it: Think it of like a “simple” sugar cookie! The sugar cookie is an independent clause!

4. Sugar Cookie = simple sentence

5. Example: I love to eat decorated sugar cookies during the holidays!
Subject: ____________
Verb: ____________

6. A compound sentence has two subject verb pairs.
Definition: A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined together with a comma and a conjunction (or a semi-colon).
A compound sentence has two subject verb pairs.
Picture it: Think of it like two cream- filled sugar cookies! Each cookie is an independent clause. The filling is the comma and conjunction holding the sentences together!

7. 2 Cream filled sugar cookies = compound sentence

8. Example:
I love to eat decorated sugar cookies during the holidays, but I often eat too many.
Subject 1: ____________
Verb 1: ____________
Subject 2: ____________
Verb 2: ____________

9. 3) Complex Sentence
Definition: A complex sentence is made up of one independent clause attached to at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
A complex sentence has at least two subject verb pairs.
Picture it: Think of it like a chocolate chip cookie! It’s a sugar cookie (independent) with chocolate chips (the dependent clause)! Could the chocolate chips make a cookie without the sugar cookie portion?

10. Chocolate chip cookie = complex sentence

11. Example:
When I am at my grandma’s house, I love to eat chocolate chip cookies during the holidays!
Subject 1: ____________
Subject 2: ____________
Verb 1: ____________
Verb 2: ____________
Signal (CLUE) words: These words let you know you are beginning a dependent clause!
When Before After Because Whenever Although That If Even though Who As if Since Until