Sentence Structure Review Sheet

Identifying Subjects and Predicates

Every sentence has a subject and a predicate. The Subject of a sentence is who or what the sentence is about,
and the Predicate is what it is doing (usually includes the verb).
Example: The province of Ontario | attracts many tourists from the United States.
(Complete Subject)
(Complete Predicate)

Independent and Dependent Clauses

An Independent Clause -- means it can stand on its own. A Dependent Clauses -- does just that, depends
on the rest of the sentence (can't stand on its own). If you combine an independent and a dependent clause, you
DO NOT need a comma. **When you combine two independent clauses, you need a comma and a
conjunction!
**Example:
Dad liked my homemade salsa, but Mom found it too spicy.
(Independent clause)
(Independent clause)
Arthur Ashe retired from professional tennis in 1980 and wrote A Hard Road to Glory. [no comma]
(Independent clause)
(Dependent clause)
***FYI: when you combine two independent clauses, you may also add a semi colon (;) between the independent
clauses.
Example: Dad liked my homemade salsa; Mom found it too spicy.

Sentences Classified According to Structure

The structure of a sentence is determined by the number and types of clauses it has. A sentence can be
classified, depending on its structure, as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.

A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no subordinate clauses.

Examples:
Cora and Kareem bought party supplies at the mall.
Later, they drove to school and decorated the cafeteria for the Ecology Clubs annual banquet.

A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.
Examples:
Cora hung colorful streamers from the ceiling, and Kareem set party favors on the tables.
After an hour, they took a short break; then they went back to work.
They agreed not to take any more breaks; otherwise, they would be late getting home.

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
Example:
When they finished their work, they complimented each other on the results.
(Subordinate clause)
(Independent clause)

A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate
clause.
Example:
Cora waited for just the right moment to ask Kareem to the banquet, and he promptly accepted her
(Independent clause)
(Independent clause)
invitation, adding that he had been planning to ask her.
(Subordinate clause)