Download Sentence Structure Notes

Sentence Structure Notes
1.
A simple sentence contains one subject verb relationship. In other words, it contains one
independent clause and no subordinate (dependent) clauses.
The boys went to the lake, played on the beach, and ate lunch.
Sitting by the lake, the boys and girls ate lunch.
Jane, Sally, Bob, and John swam, played, and ate at the lake.
* Jane and Bob swam and played, and John ate lunch.
2.
A compound sentence contains two subject verb relationships. In other words, it contains
two independent clauses and no subordinate (dependent) clauses.
The boys ran along the beach, but the girls sat in the sun.
Bob found various shells; Sally found someone’s garbage.
Jane wanted to swim with her brother; however, he was busy eating.
3.
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate
(dependent) clause. A subordinate (dependent) clause is always introduced by a complex
connector (subordinating conjunction).
Although the boys swim faster, the girls like to race them after they eat lunch.
Sally went to the lake because all her friends decided to go.
The sunbather who had on the pink bikini was covered in sunscreen.
4.
A compound-complex sentence contains two independent clauses and at least one
subordinate (dependent) clause. In other words, a compound-complex sentence contains
one compound connector and one or more complex connectors.
John ate lunch, but Bob swam in the lake until the girls got back from snorkeling.
The girl who found a shark’s tooth walked two miles up and down the beach;
therefore, she missed lunch with her friends.
Compound Connectors
Coordinating Conjunctions
Semicolon
and
Transitional Word
however
furthermore
nevertheless
meanwhile
therefore
then
nor
consequently
next
for
instead
thus
so
otherwise
hence
yet
moreover
;
but
or
SV,
SV
SV;SV
S V ; (word) , S V
Complex Connectors
14 WH connectors
6 THAT connectors
7 AS connectors
who
that
as
whom
the fact that
as if
whose
in order that
as though
which
provided that
as well as
what
so that
as soon as
when
(that omitted)
as
whether
where
as
just as
I know
you want an A.
why
while
7 miscellaneous
whenever
3 THOUGH connectors
after
wherever
though
how
whoever
even though
if
whomever
although
since
than
2 BE connectors
unless
before
until
because
GRAMMAR HELPS
Helping Verbs
is
am
are
was
were
be
been
being
have
has
had
do
does
did
may
might
must
can
could
will
would
shall
should
ought
Good Verbs to Take the Place of Helping Verbs
accentuate
clarify
diagnose
expound
maintain
remain
accept
coach
disclose
express
manipulate
render
access
complicate
discuss
fail
mediate
renounce
account
conceal
disguise
fashion
misconceive
represent
adapt
conceive
dismantle
feature
multiply
respond
address
condemn
dismiss
focus
navigate
reveal
advance
condense
display
form
negate
review
agree
configure
disprove
frame
negotiate
scrutinize
allege
confirm
dispute
generate
obscure
shape
alter
conflate
distinguish
grasp
obstruct
shroud
amplify
conflict
divulge
guide
offer
signify
analyze
conjecture
dramatize
heighten
organize
simulate
argue
connect
echo
highlight
perceive
situate
arrange
consider
elaborate
hint
persuade
study
ascribe
construct
elevate
identify
portray
succeed
assert
contend
embody
illuminate
posit
suggest
assign
contradict
emphasize
illustrate
position
support
associate
counteract
enable
imply
present
sustain
assume
craft
enforce
indicate
prioritize
transform
attain
create
engage
inform
probe
treat
attest
criticize
epitomize
initiate
produce
trigger
attribute
critique
establish
insinuate
pronounce
underscore
augment
deconstruct
evaluate
insist
propose
validate
authorize
defy
evoke
instigate
prove
veil
bolster
demonstrate
examine
instruct
question
verify
broaden
denote
exemplify
intensify
radicalize
warp
build
denounce
exhibit
interpret
rationalize
witness
carry
depict
exist
interrogate
recall
work
cause
deride
expand
invent
recognize
censure
descend
explain
investigate
reconfigure
challenge
describe
explicate
isolate
reconstruct
characterize
detach
explore
justify
refer
claim
detect
expose
link
reinforce
Commonly Used Prepositions
aboard
about
above
according to
across
after
against
along
amid
among
around
as
at
atop
because of
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
but (except)
by
concerning
despite
down
during
except
for
from
in
in spite of
inside
instead of
into
like
near
of
off
on
on account of
onto
out
outside
over
past
since
through
throughout
till
to
toward
under
underneath
until
up
upon
with
within
without
apart from
aside
away
back of
considering
due to
in addition to
in front of
in place of
next to
on top of
opposite
prior to
regarding
together with
ahead of
alongside
Transition Words/Phrases
(To be used at the beginning of a paragraph to transition to a new idea OR within the paragraph
to transition from sentence to sentence.)
Chronological order:
Order of importance:
Add information:
Compare things:
after a while
also
additionally
although
afterwards
even more
again
as
as a result
finally
along with
in the same way
at any rate
first (second, third)
also
like
at first
first of all
also
likewise
at last
for example
another
similarly
at length
for one reason
as well
Contrast things:
at the same time
furthermore
besides
even though
at this moment
more
finally
however
during
moreover
for example
on the other hand
earlier/later
most important
for instance
otherwise
eventually
next
in addition
still
finally
one
moreover
yet
immediately
perhaps
next
Summarize:
in the end
the greatest reason
all in all
in the meantime
as a result
instantly
finally
meanwhile
in conclusion
occasionally
in summary
once/twice
lastly
prior to
therefore
seldom/frequently
to sum up
soon