Sentence structures

Level 2

Explanation
Let’s start with a quick reminder about sentences.

A sentence:
➤➤ expresses at least one complete idea so that it makes sense on its own;
➤➤ contains at least one noun (a word that describes a person, object
or thing, for example: table, dog, Jack, driver) and one verb (a ‘doing’
or ‘being’ word that describes an action or state, for example: am,
run, swim);
➤➤ starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.

There are three main types of sentence.

Simple sentences
A simple sentence is made up of one clause. This means it contains a
complete idea using a noun and a verb. For example:

Noun
Phillippa went to the cinema.
Verb

Learner tip
Just because a sentence is simple does not mean it is any less
valuable for your writing. Short, simple sentences can be used
together with longer, compound or complex sentences for variety
and emphasis. For example:

Gillian trained hard for the fun run and bought an expensive
new pair of trainers because she didn’t want to embarrass
herself after what happened before. She came last.

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Compound sentences
You can join simple sentences together by using ‘and’, ‘or’ and ‘but’.
These words are called conjunctions, which means ‘joining words’. For
example:

Sally is tall.

Her brother David is short.

Conjunction
Sally is tall, but her brother David is short.

This sort of join makes a compound sentence. The two clauses have
been put together, have equal importance and each would make sense
as a sentence on its own.

Here is another example, using a different conjunction to turn two

simple sentences into a compound sentence:

The Arctic lies at the North Pole. simple sentence

The Antarctic lies at the South Pole. simple sentence

Compound sentence using

‘and’ as a conjunction.

The Arctic lies at the North Pole and the Antarctic lies at the
South Pole.

Complex sentences
In some sentences, one of the clauses is the main clause and the other
is a lesser, related clause.
➤➤ The main clause is a standalone clause because it can make
complete sense on its own.
➤➤ The lesser, related clause is called a subordinate clause because it
only makes sense when you link it with the main one.

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Sentences like this with a main clause and a subordinate clause are
called complex sentences.

You can find the main clause by taking away the clauses you can do
without:

was standing, but the sentence can work without it.

John was looking at the girl who was standing at the gate.

I’ll eat the sausage that you’ve left on your plate.

know that the sausage is a leftover, but the

sentence can work without it.

Subordinators
Subordinate clauses almost always start with a subordinator. This is a
word or phrase that warns you that this is not really the main business
of the sentence and is an extra to the main clause. It is common for the
subordinator to be a conjunction, such as:

because despite after if

except in order to unless since although

Here are some examples:

Main clause

because I want to be a plumber.

Subordinator
Subordinate clause

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Main clause Subordinator

I hope to get a job after I’ve finished training.

Subordinate clause

Choosing the right subordinator

Subordinators have different functions in a sentence and if you choose
the wrong one, it will make your sentence at best confusing and at
worst nonsense. Some of the most common functions are:
Function Subordinators Example sentence
Show when after, when, since, as, I went to the café
something happens whenever, while, until after work.

Show where where, wherever, That is the place

something happens anywhere where I work.

Explain something as, since, because I’m tired because I

haven’t had a holiday
in years.
Qualify something if, although, unless, You can go if you
as long as, except want.

Contrast something yet, whereas, You like it, whereas I

otherwise don’t.

Add in something as well as You’ll need the eggs

as well as the butter.
Describe something who, which, that, I like the artist that
whose has just won the
talent show.

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Look at these example sentences:

The subordinator does not explain why

the person cannot come in.
You can’t come in because you apologise.

Incorrect: Doesn’t make sense.

You can’t come in unless you apologise.

The subordinator qualifies the statement
‘You can’t come in’.
Correct: Does make sense.

Varying complex sentences

One of the best ways of varying your sentences is by moving the
position of the subor­dinate clause. Subordinate clauses can be
anywhere.

You can put them last:

I hope to get a job after I’ve finished training.

You can put them first:

After I’ve finished training, I hope to get a job.

Learner tip
Notice that when the subordinate clause moves further up the
sentence:
➤➤ the subordinator (in this case ‘after’) moves too;
➤➤ a comma is used as a buffer between the main and
subordinate clauses.

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You can even put them in the middle:

Commas buffering
the main clause
Subordinator
The office manager decided that , despite everybody’s protests, we
needed to work late to clear the backlog.
Subordinate clause

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