Types of English Sentence Structure

There are four types of English sentence struture. Once you master these four types of English sentence structure, you will find writing easier and enjoyable.

Types of English Sentence Structure

There are different ways to categorize sentences. However, for ease of learning, sentence structure is most helpful. There are four types of sentence structure. They are simple, compound, complex and compound-complex.

By the way, a sentence is a group of words that expresses one complete thought. That is, a sentence must have a subject and a verb. If a group of words does not convey one complete thought, then you have a sentence fragment. Furthermore, if a group of words is not joined together correctly, then you have a run-on sentence.

English Sentence Structure

1. Simple Sentences

A simple sentence has one independent clause or main clause. It has no dependent clauses or subordinate clauses. However, a simple sentence may have a compound subject or a compound verb. Also, it may have both a compound subject and verb.

The house caught fire. (single subject and verb)

The house and barn caught fire and burned down. (compound subject and verb)

2. Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions or punctuation.

A compound sentence does not have a dependent clause.

The house caught fire, and the fire brigade extinguished the fire.

The coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

The house caught fire; the fire brigade extinguished the fire.

The semi-colon joins these two independent clauses together.

3. Complex Sentences

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

An independent clause has one complete thought; whereas, a dependent clause has an incomplete thought.

For example, a dependent clause could be like this: When we returned from the football game.... This group of words is an incomplete thought. In other words, we are looking for more information to understand what it wants to say.

When we returned from the football game, the house caught fire and burned down.

Dependent or subordinate clauses can be noun clauses, adjective clauses or adverb clauses.

4. Compound-complex Sentences

A compound-complete sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

When we arrived home, the house caught fire, and we quickly called the fire brigade on the mobile.

The house caught fire, and the fire brigade put the fire out before it caused any damage.

I created this website to help my children understand Basic English Grammar
because I believe every child should have the ability to write grammatically correct.