●

REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA

UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA EXPERIMENTAL LIBERTADOR
INSTITUTO PEDAGÓGICO “LUIS BELTRÁN PRIETO FIGUEROA”
DEPARTAMENTO DE IDIOMAS MODERNOS

HANDOUT ON SENTENCE TYPES ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE

Structural Grammar

Sentences (form of the structure)

Simple: One independent sentence (simple /compound subject and simple / compound

predicate).

Compound: Two or more independent sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Complex: One independent sentence (main clause) and one or more dependent sentences

(subordinating clauses) joined by coordinating conjunctions.

Compound Complex: Two or more independent sentences joined by coordinating

conjunctions to one or more dependent sentences.

The sentence in English according to the structure.

Kinds of subject and predicate.

Example: All the students at the English Department learn grammar.

This complete sentence, as you can see, has its own subject and predicate and also, makes

sense by itself, contains the words: Students and Learn which are the most important

elements in the subject and predicate. These two elements are the most important in any

sentence. Even if the sentences is in imperative form, it has and understood subject which is

you.

The subject and the predicate in a sentence can be “simple “ or “compound”. The subject is

simple when there is just one element with highest degree of importance in a sentence. But

if there are two elements with the same degree of importance, the subject is compound.
 ●

Example: All the students at the English Department … (simple subject)

All the students and teachers at the English Department… (compound subject)

The predicate in a sentence can be “simple “or “compound”. The predicate is simple when

there is just one element with highest degree of importance in a sentence. But if there are

two elements with the same degree of importance, the predicate is compound.

Example: ... learn grammar. (simple predicate)

... learn and practice grammar. (compound predicate)

We need to get familiar with the next terms:

Noun A person, place, thing, or idea Ex: dog, school, rubber ducky

Verb An action or state of being Ex: jumped, felt, are, were

Subject A noun or set of words that acts out Ex: The yellow puppy
the verb
Clause A structure that has a subject and a Ex: The yellow puppy barked.
verb
Independent Clause A structure that has a subject and Ex: The yellow puppy barked at the
verb. It expresses a complete idea that black cat.
can stand alone.
Dependent Clause A structure that has a subject and a Ex: When the yellow puppy barked
verb but does not express a complete
thought. It cannot stand alone
Coordinating conjunctions A word that connects words, phrases, Ex: The yellow puppy barked, and the
or clauses (for, or, and, yet, nor, so, black cat jumped.
but)
Subordinating conjunctions A word that connects an independent Ex: After the yellow puppy barked, the
clause to a dependent clause black cat jumped.

A Simple Sentence

A simple sentence only has one independent clause. An independent clause has a subject
and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Examples:
Some students like to study in the morning.

The green dish broke.

 ●

The llama spit.

Sometimes, simple sentences have compound structures.

• Compound subject: A subject that has two parts that are often connected with a
coordinating conjunction.

Example: Cassidy and Arturo like to study in the morning.

(“Cassidy” and “Arturo” are two separate nouns. When they are connected together
using “and,” they create a compound subject.)

• Compound predicate: A verb that has two parts often connected with a coordinating
conjunction.

Example: Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

(In this example, “goes” and “studies” are two separate verbs that make a compound
verb. The coordinating conjunction, “and” connects them.)

A Compound Sentence

A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by a coordinating

conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Except for very short sentences, a comma
goes right before a coordinating conjunction.

Examples:
I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.

Alejandro played football, so Maria went shopping.

 ●

A Complex Sentence

A complex sentence has one independent clause and one to two dependent clauses.
A complex sentence always has a subordinating conjunction (because, since, after,
although, when…) or a pronoun (who, which, and that).

If a dependent clause has a subordinating conjunction and is located at the

beginning of the sentence, a comma should be used to separate it from the
independent clause.

Examples:

Complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions

When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page.

The teacher returned the homework after she noticed the error.

Single, Compound, and Complex Sentences 3

The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.

A Compound-Complex Sentences

A compound-complex sentence combines complex sentence and compound sentence forms.

A compound-complex sentence contains one or more independent clauses and one or more
dependent clauses.
Examples:
1. Although she felt guilty for missing her friend’s birthday, she took her out to dinner the
next day, and they had a great time.

2. I try to eat healthy food, but because fast food is so convenient, I cannot maintain a
healthy diet.
3. If he got the job, he would have to commute 50 miles to work, so he decided the job
was not worth it.

Activity 1

Directions: Identify the sentence type. Circle any coordinating or subordinating conjunctions.

Underline independent clauses once and dependent clauses twice.

Example: Harry Potter was rejected from many publishers before J.K. Rowling found success.
 ●

Sentence type:______Complex___________________________________________________

2. Even though the patients showed various symptoms, the clinical study found that lack of

sleep contributes to the inability to focus, irritability, and poorer health.

Sentence

type:___________Complex_______________________________________________

3. More and more students are relying on online databases to find sources.

Sentence

type:_______simple_____________________________________________________

4. The business analysts proposed higher numbers for next quarter, and they expect to exceed

those numbers the following quarter.

Sentence type:___Compound________________________________________________

5. Homeless teens face intense obstacles, but when it comes to schooling, they do have the
chance to receive an education if they enroll in a special program.

Sentence type: _____Complex____________________________________________________

Bibliography

Strauss, Jane and GrammarBook. (2020). Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects. GrammarBook. Retrieved from

https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerb.asp Trach, Elizabeth. (n.d.) Relative Pronouns.

Your Dictionary. Retrieved from https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-ofspeech/pronouns/relative-
pronoun.html
 ●

, Cindy L. (2006). Grammar by Diagram: Understanding English Grammar Through Traditional Sentence
Diagramming. Second edition. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Press.
Walden University. (2020). Grammar: Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences. Walden University.
Retrieved from
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/sentencestructure