Sentence

Structure
Vocabulary
Basic Building Blocks for Great
Writing
8.8

3 Types of Sentences!
1. Simple Sentence:

a group of words that has a subject and its

predicate and that makes a complete thought.
simple sentences are independent clauses

EX: Shaggy loves to bark.

3 Types of Sentences!
break-down
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: a complete sentence. Always a
simple sentence.

3 Types of Sentences!
break-down
DEPENDENT CLAUSE: (or a subordinate clause) is a
clause that provides an independent clause with additional
information, but which cannot stand alone as a sentence.

3 Types of Sentences!
1. Compound Sentence: is a sentence made up of two independent
clauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a comma and a
coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think
of the words as, "FAN BOYS."

For
And
Nor

But
Or
Yet
So

conjunction

EX: Katniss can survive in the forest, and she is a

capable archer.
RULE: you MUST use a comma before the conjunction

3 Types of Sentences!

3. Complex Sentence: is made up of an independent clause (complete

sentence) and one or more dependent clauses connected to it.
The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause,
as in the following:
1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see
them at the station.

RULE: When the dependent clause comes first, a

comma is used to separate the two clauses.

3 Types of Sentences!
3. Complex Sentence: is made up of an independent clause (complete
sentence) and one or more dependent clauses connected to it.
The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as in
the following:
EX: I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station
before noon

RULE: When the independent clause comes first, a comma

is NOT used to separate the two clauses.

Types of
Sentences
Simple
Compound
Complex

SOL questions related to sentence

structure
How
can Zane best rewrite sentence 11?
F Bill asked us if we would like a tour before lunch, Uncle Hank and Aunt
Wanda were both smiling as though a warehouse were something special.
G Uncle Hank and Aunt Wanda were both smiling as though a warehouse
were something special, Bill asked us if we would like a tour before lunch.
H As though a warehouse were something special, Uncle Hank and Aunt
Wanda both smiled Bill asked us if we would like a tour before lunch.
J When Bill asked us if we would like a tour before lunch,
Uncle Hank and Aunt Wanda both smiled as though
a warehouse were something special.

SOL questions related to sentence

5structure
How are sentences 5 and 6 best combined without changing their

meaning?

A One day a customer sent his serving of fried potatoes back to the chef
who complained that they should have been sliced thinner.
B One day a customer sent his serving of fried potatoes back to the chef,
complaining that they should have been sliced thinner.
C One day a customer sent his serving of fried potatoes back to the chef
until he complained that they should have been sliced thinner.
D One day a customer sent his serving of fried potatoes back to the chef,
yet he complained that they should have been sliced thinner.

Parts of a sentence

subject

predicate

who or what the

sentence is about.

explains the action

that the subject is
doing.

t
a
h
t
d
r
o
w
.
:
)
e
e
c
t
n
a
e
c
r
i
r
d
u
e
c
r
c
p
o
e
r
l
o
p
e
m
t
i
a
s
t
(
s
n,
o
i
VERB
t
c
a
n
a
s
e
b
descri
Noun
: a pe
rson,
place
, or t
hing
Parts of Speech

we
you
he
she
it
they

Pronoun: a word that takes the place of

a noun.
pretty
Adject
ive: a
descr
ibing
word
funny
caring

s
t
c
e
n
n
co
t
a
h
t
rd
o
w
a
:
n
.
o
e
i
c
t
c
n
n
e
t
n
e
s
Conju
a
f
o
s
t
r
a
p
(joins)

Parts of Speech

r
o
b
r
e
v
a
s
e
b
i
r
c
s
e
d
t
a
h
t
d
r
o
w
a
:
B
ADVER ive
t
c
e
j
d
a
an

Parts of Speech

ctive
e
j
d
a
n
b or a
r
e
v
a
ribes
c
s
e
d
t
rd tha
o
w
a
:
B
ADVER

-er

-ier (
d

rop y
)

comparative adverbs: an adverb

that compares 2 words, phrases, or
clauses re
mo

Parts of Speech

ctive
e
j
d
a
n
b or a
r
e
v
a
ribes
c
s
e
d
t
rd tha
o
w
a
:
B
ADVER

-ies
t

(
drop
t
s
-e
y)
Superlative adverb: compare
3 words, phrases, or clauses

st
o
m
e
th
Parts of Speech

Direct Object: a noun or a pronoun that receives the

action of a verb in a sentence. Answers who or what?
Only action verbs can have direct
objects. A direct object will never
follow a linking verb.
To find a direct object:
1) Find the verb. Is it an action verb?
2) If it is an action verb, put the verb in
the blank and ask "______ who or
what?"

Only action verbs can have direct objects. A direct object will never follow a
linking verb.
To find a direct object:
1) Find the verb. Is it an action verb?
2) If it is an action verb, put the verb in the blank and ask "______ who or what?"

Sophie chased the cat.

Martin ate his sandwich.
Katie played softball after school.
Mark wrote an essay during class.
My cat ate a treat yesterday.
The captain yelled at Rob for skipping practice.
My dad called my brother to tell him happy birthday.

modifier:

something that provides additional information or that limits the meaning of a

word or phrase. A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes.

A modifier is an adjective or adverb.

Modifiers As Adjectives

Read more at http://www.yourdictionary.com/modifier#IVvoZObJmdJr4jJA.99

When a modifier is an adjective, it modifies a noun or a pronoun. (In these examples, the modifiers are
identified by pink and the words being modified are bold).
Lee caught a small mackerel. Here, the adjective small modifies the noun mackerel.)Lee caught a
small mackerel.
(Don't forget that articles (i.e., the, an, and a) are adjectives too. Here, a modifies the noun mackerel as
does small.)

Lee caught another one.(Here, the adjective another modifies the pronoun one.)
Mike met a pretty girl.

Shaggy chased a red ball.

The sheriff chased a petty criminal.

Melissa drank only milkshakes.

modifier:

is something that provides additional information or that limits the meaning of

a word or phrase. A modifier should be placed next to the word it describes.

A modifier is an adjective or adverb.

Modifiers
Read moreAs
atAdverbs
http://www.yourdictionary.com/modifier#IVvoZObJmdJr4jJA.99
When a modifier is an adverb, it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. For
example:
Lee accidentally caught a small whelk. (Here, the adverb accidentally modifies the verb
caught.)
Lee caught an incredibly small mackerel. (Here, the adverb incredibly modifies the
adjective small.)
Lee supposedly accidentally caught a small whelk. (Here, the adverb supposedly
Mike modifies
luckily metthe
a pretty
girl.accidentally.) Shaggy happily chased a red ball.
adverb
The sheriff quickly chased a petty criminal.

Melissa clearly drank only milkshakes.

modifier:

The definition of a modifier is something that provides additional information

or that limits the meaning of a word or phrase. A modifier should be placed next to the word it
describes. Changes the meaning--can be taken out.

A modifier is an adjective or adverb.

2 dangers

Read more at http://www.yourdictionary.com/modifier#IVvoZObJmdJr4jJA.99

misplaced modifiers

dangling modifiers

SOL questions that relate to parts of

speech
Read this sentence.
In sentence 30, how is more
fresher correctly written?

Of all the subjects in school,

I do better in math.

F most freshest

In this sentence, how is better

correctly written?

G freshest
H fresher
J As it is

F most well
G best
H more well
J As it is