Sentence Structure

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What is a Dependent Clause?

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A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

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What is an Independent Clause?

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An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.

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What is a Simple Sentence?

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A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no dependent clauses. It has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

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What is a Compound Sentence?

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A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon.

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What is a Complex Sentence?

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A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

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What is a Compound-Complex Sentence?

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A compound-complex sentence consists of at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

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Example of a Dependent Clause:

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"if I don't pass the test" is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone.

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Example of an Independent Clause:

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"I passed the test" is an independent clause because it expresses a complete thought.

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Identify the structure: "Juan played football, yet Juanita went shopping."

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This is a compound sentence because it has two independent clauses joined by 'yet'.

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Identify the structure: "Jamel organized the festival, and he called all the bands."

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This is a compound sentence because it has two independent clauses joined by 'and'.