Clauses and Sentence Structures

Clauses

A clause is a group of words with it's own subject and verb.

Complex

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

Compound

A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses and never has a dependent clause. It is usually is connected with a conjunction, or a comma, a semicolon, or a colon.

Dependent

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb, but cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence. It is only part of a sentence.

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause. Simple sentences never have a dependent clause, and they never have more than one independent clause.

Independent Clause:

An independent clause has a subject and a verb that can stand by itself in a complete sentence.

As she was leaving work, Rebecca remembered that she forgot her glasses, so she had to go back and get them.

Compound-complex sentence

Compound-Complex

Compound-complex sentences contain two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clause.

The boy is wearing a blue shirt.

Simple sentences

The girl ran down the street.

Simple sentences

The rain came down.

Simple sentences

There will be snow tomorrow.

Simple sentences

Because my coffee was cold, I heated it in the microwave.

complex sentence

Because this day is so important, we have to go celebrate.

complex sentence

She returned the computer after she noticed it was damaged.

complex sentence

Jamie ran a two-day athletic clinic, and four professionals donated their time.

compound sentence

The boy and the girl dance/dances

dance

The girls dance/dances

dance

The girl dance/dances

dances

After the movie. Independent or dependent??

dependent clause

During the concert.

dependent clause

While walking home. Independent or dependent??

dependent clause

He finished reading his book. Independent or dependent??

independent clause

I hit the baseball. Independent or dependent??

independent clause

She colored the picture. Independent or dependent??

independent clause

Two or more subjects joined by or

the verb goes with the subject closest to it

Two or more subjects joined by and

the verb will not get an "s".

If the subject doesn't end in -s,

the verb will.

-If the subject does end in -s

the verb won't

The professor or the students walk/walks the halls

walk because when you read it as the students WALK the halls.