Grammar Guide: Sentence Structure

To be an effective writer, you need to understand how to write a correct sentence. A sentence usually contains a subject and a verb. In English , the first word in a sentence is always capitalized and the last word is followed by an appropriate punctuation mark. This lesson will cover the structure of sentences.

Clauses
In order to understand the different structures of sentences, you must understand the difference between independent and dependent clauses.

An independent clause is a clause (a group of words containing a subject and a verb) that can stand alone. An independent clause can stand as a complete sentence.

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone. A dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause in order to form a complete sentence. 

Simple Sentences 
A simple sentence is composed of one single independent clause.

The girl ate an apple.
The boy ate an orange.

Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is composed of two (or more) independent clauses connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

The girl ate an apple, but the boy ate an orange.

Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is composed of one (or more) independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause connected by a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the dependent clause and a comma (if the dependent clause comes first).

When the dependent clause comes first, use a comma to separate the dependent clause and the independent clause.

Because she was hungry, the girl ate an apple.
Before the girl ate an apple, the boy ate an orange.

When the independent clause comes first, do not use a comma between the independent clause and the dependent clause.

The boy ate an orange because he was hungry.
The girl ate an apple after the boy ate an orange.

Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence is composed of one (or more) dependent clause and two (or more) independent clauses.

When the dependent clause comes first, use a comma to separate the dependent clause and the independent clause.

Because they were hungry, the girl ate an apple, and the boy ate an orange.
After they had eaten lunch, the girl ate an apple, and the boy ate an orange.

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