Tema 2. Estructura y significación de la oración.

2.1. Frases
2.2. Clausulas adjetivas y adverbiales y sus elementos
de enlace.
2.3. Oraciones
Sentence Structure: Learn the Rules for Every Sentence Type

Sentence structure is how all the parts of a sentence fit together. If you want to
make more advanced and interesting sentences, you first have to understand
how sentence structure works.

Below, we explain the rules for all types of sentence structure so that you can
communicate clearly, correctly, and confidently. But before we dive into the
details, let’s start by reexamining the basics. 

Basic parts of a sentence

Every sentence requires at least a verb and a subject; a verb is an action, and a
subject is the noun that does the action. 

I am waiting. 

In this example, am waiting is the verb. The main verb is wait, but when we
conjugate it in the present continuous, we use the –ing form and add the
auxiliary verb am. The subject is I, the person who waits. 

The exception to this rule is imperative sentences (commands), which only need
a verb. We can assume the subject is the person the speaker is talking to. 

Stop!

This single word is a complete sentence. The verb is stop, and no subject is
necessary because it’s a command. 
Some sentences can add objects, which are nouns that also participate in the
action. Let’s say you forgot your calculator and you ask your friend to borrow
theirs. 

My buddy lends me their calculator. 

In this example, lends is the verb and my buddy is the subject because they’re
the one lending. The word calculator is what’s called a direct object, the noun
that receives the action. In this case, the direct object is the thing being lent—a
calculator. 

The indirect object is the noun that receives the direct object. In the example
above, the indirect object is me, because that’s who receives the calculator.
Indirect objects come between the verb and direct object. 

Did you notice that the subject uses the pronoun I but the objects use the
pronoun me? Subject and object pronouns are different, so make sure you’re
using the right one.  

Only a certain type of verb called transitive verbs can use direct and indirect
objects. However, transitive verbs are quite common, so you’ll be using them a
lot. 

Let’s look at another example. 

Herrera passes Mbappé the ball. 

Can you identify the verb, subject, direct object, and indirect object? 

The verb is passes because that’s the action in the sentence. 

The subject is Herrera because Herrera is the person who passes. 

The direct object is the ball because the ball is the thing being passed. 

The indirect object is Mbappé because Mbappé receives the ball. 

Sentence structure grammar rules

Aside from knowing the parts of a sentence, you also have to follow the
grammar rules. In case you forget, here’s a quick list:

Capitalize the first letter of the first word in a sentence. 

End a sentence with a period, question mark, exclamation point, or quotation

marks.

Most of the time, the subject of the sentence comes first, the verb comes
second, and the objects come last. (Subject -> Verb -> Object)

If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural,
the verb must be plural. This is known as subject-verb agreement. 

Types of clauses
If every sentence were as simple as subject + verb + object, books would be so
boring! That’s why English has developed a few different sentence structures to
keep things interesting and give us more options for speaking and writing. 

Before we get into those different sentence structures, it’s crucial to understand
how clauses work. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a
verb. Sometimes a clause is a complete sentence on its own, but other times it
needs help before it expresses a complete thought. 

A clause that is a complete sentence is called an independent clause. It contains

everything you need for a complete sentence: subjects and verbs, with objects
optional. 

We’ll eat dinner at five. 

Faria and Bertuccio assisted the Count of Monte Cristo. 

A clause that is not a complete sentence is called a dependent clause,

or subordinate clause. These support independent clauses, usually by adding
necessary information. 

The roads are icy because it rained last night. 

This sentence contains two clauses: (1) The roads are icy and (2) because it
rained last night. Each sentence has a subject (the roads & it) and a verb
(are & rained), but only the first clause is a complete sentence by itself. 

Notice that the subordinate clause because it rained last night slightly changes

the meaning of the first sentence by adding new and important information.
That’s the main purpose of subordinate clauses—to improve an independent
clause with essential details. 

Although subordinate clauses have both subjects and verbs, they cannot exist
on their own. They contain special words called subordinating conjunctions,
which connect them to independent clauses. 

Common subordinating conjunctions include because, since, although, unless,

and while, as well as relative
pronouns like that, which, whatever, whenever, whoever, etc. 

If you see a subordinating conjunction, it means that group of words is a

subordinate clause. It helps to memorize them so you can easily identify
different clauses. You can find a complete list of subordinating
conjunctions here. 

4 types of sentence structure

Depending on how you combine clauses, you can create four different types of
sentence structure: 

Simple: 1 independent clause

Compound: 2 or more independent clauses

Complex:1 independent clause + 1 or more subordinate clauses

Compound-Complex: 2 or more independent clauses + 1 or more subordinate

clauses

Note: Sentences are also categorized by their function, i.e., declarative,

interrogative, exclamation, and imperative. These are separate from the types of
sentence structure (complex, compound, etc.), and the two categories can be
mixed and matched. To read more about each, check out our guide on the types
of sentences. 

Let’s take a deeper look at each type of sentence structure and how to form it. 

Simple sentences
Simple sentences are pretty simple: just a single independent clause, no more,
no less. This includes subject and verbs, but can also include objects. 

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.”—Hans Christian Anderson

“Real glory springs from the silent conquest of ourselves.”—Joseph P. Thompson

Compound sentences
A compound sentence joins together two or more independent clauses into a
single sentence. You can connect the independent clauses in two ways:

Using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet,

and so, known as FANBOYS) between the clauses. 

Using a semicolon between the clauses. 

“It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.”—Miyamoto

Musashi

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”—Oscar Wilde

“We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are
lying, we know they know we know they are lying, but they are still lying.”—
Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn

Complex sentences
A complex sentence uses one main independent clause with any number of
subordinate clauses. While compound sentences use coordinating conjunctions
to join the clauses together, complex sentences use subordinating conjunctions,
explained earlier. 
If the subordinating clause comes first, use a comma before the independent
clause. If the independent clause comes first, you don’t need a comma at all. 

“Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”—African
proverb

“When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves
with pleasure.”—Viktor Frankl

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”—
Aristotle

Compound-complex sentences
As the name suggests, compound-complex sentences combine compound
sentences with complex sentences. They require at least two independent
clauses and at least one subordinating clause. To combine them, follow the
specific grammar rules for each; be sure you’re using your coordinating
conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions in the right places.

“If you’re going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it, or else you’re going to be
locked up.”—Hunter S. Thompson

“Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it
will come naturally.”—David Frost

Need help with sentence structure?

Sentence structure can get pretty complicated, especially at first when learning
the differences between clauses and conjunctions. To help you out, Grammarly
gives you suggestions on how to transform whole sentences for clarity. 

While you write, Grammarly recommends edits and revisions to improve your
sentence structure—not just to correct grammar mistakes, but also to
communicate in more effective and engaging ways. Write with Grammarly to
make sure your sentence structure is strong. 
Phrase Examples

A phrase is a group of words that express a concept and is used as a

unit within a sentence. Eight common types of phrases are: noun, verb,
gerund, infinitive, appositive, participial, prepositional, and absolute.
Take a look at our selection of phrase examples below

Noun Phrases

A noun phrase consists of a noun and all its modifiers.

Here are examples:

 The bewildered tourist was lost.

 The lost puppy was a wet and stinky dog.
 The flu clinic had seen many cases of infectious disease.
 It was a story as old as time.
 The sports car drove the long and winding road.
 Saturday became a cool, wet afternoon.

Verb Phrases

A verb phrase consists of a verb and all its modifiers.

Here are examples:

 He was waiting for the rain to stop.

 She was upset when it didn't boil.
 You have been sleeping for a long time.
 You might enjoy a massage.
 He was eager to eat dinner.

Gerund Phrases

A gerund phrase is simply a noun phrase that starts with a gerund.

Examples include:
  Taking my dog for a walk is fun.
 Walking in the rain can be difficult.
 Strolling along a beach at sunset is romantic.
 Getting a promotion is exciting.
 Signing autographs takes time.
 Going for ice cream is a real treat.
 Singing for his supper was how he earned his keep.
 Getting a sore back was the result of the golf game.
 Pulling an all-nighter did not improve his test scores.
 Sailing into the sunset was the perfect end to the book.

Infinitive Phrases

An infinitive phrase is a noun phrase that begins with an infinitive verb.

Here are some examples:

 To make lemonade, you have to start with lemons.

 I tried to see the stage, but I was too short.
 She organized a boycott to make a statement.
 To see Niagara Falls is mind-boggling.
 He really needs to get his priorities in order.
 The company decided to reduce hours for everyone.
 To donate time or money is an honorable thing.
 I went to Spain to study the language and culture.

Appositive Phrases

An appositive phrase restates and defines a noun. It consists of one or more

words.

Examples are:

 My favorite pastime, needlepoint, surprises some people.

 Her horse, an Arabian, was her pride and joy.
 My wife, the love of my life, is also my best friend.
 A cheetah, the fastest land animal, can run 70 miles an hour.
 My idea, a recycling bin for the office, was accepted by the boss.
 The Florida panther, the state animal of Florida, is an endangered
species.
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Participial Phrases

A participial phrase begins with a past or present participle.

Examples are:

 Washed with my clothes, my cell phone no longer worked.

 Knowing what I know now, I wish I had never come here.
 I am really excited, considering all the people that will be there.
 We are looking forward to the movie, having seen the trailer last
week.
 Grinning from ear to ear, she accepted her award.
 The happy dog ran the entire length of the park, pausing only to sniff
the dandelions.
 Painted a brilliant white, the small room appeared bigger.
 The lake, frozen over all winter, was finally thawing.

Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and can act as a noun, an

adjective or an adverb.

Examples are:

 The book was on the table.

 We camped by the brook.
 He knew it was over the rainbow.
 She was lost in the dark of night.
 He was between a rock and a hard place.
 I waited for a while.
 She smelled of strawberries and cream.
 He won the challenge against all odds.

Absolute Phrases

An absolute phrase has a subject, but not an action verb, so it cannot stand

alone as a complete sentence. It modifies the whole sentence, not just a noun.
Examples are:

 His tail between his legs, the dog walked out the door.
 Picnic basket in hand, she set off for her date.
 The guys attacked the pile of nachos, their fingers getting the last bit
of cheese off the plate.
 Their heads hanging down, the whole group apologized.
 The entire team, their uniforms muddy and stained, shouted for joy.

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