THE FOUR TYPES OF SENTENCE STRUCTURES

THE FOUR TYPES OF SENTENCE STRUCTURES 1

Improving your grammatical structure

What is complex sentence?

• Complex sentence is fascinating components of the English language.

• When used properly, complex sentence can add depth to our writing. 

• Complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Before we write some complex sentences, let's study what dependent clause is.

• A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

• These clauses include noun clauses, adjective clauses and adverb clauses.

• Like all clauses, a dependent clause has a subject and verb.

• A dependent clause must be attached to an independent clause.

NOUN CLAUSE

Noun clauses name a person, place, thing or idea. Noun clauses can be a subject, object, a subject complement, an object complement or an appositive. 

Here are some examples of NOUN CLAUSES.

• why she studies English

• where they come form

• what I believe

• that I love my country

• who taught me to dance

• if he belongs to the group

• how they live their lives

Let's put the noun clause in a sentence or attach the noun clause to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.

• I really understand why she studies English.

• The police asked where they come form.

• What I believe really motivates me to do good things.

• That I love my country is true.

• Everybody knows who taught me to dance.

• Please tell me if he belongs to the group.

• The central government doesn't care how they live their lives.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Adjective clauses modify nouns and usually begin with a relative pronoun and sometimes with a subordinating conjunction.

Here are some examples of ADJECTIVE CLAUSES.

• who ruled the country for more than thirty years

• whom many groups opposed his rule

• which is not popular among young Indonesians

• that contains much vitamin C

• whose tusks are smuggled in

• when Suharto stepped down

• where the security officers check your passport

Let's attach the adjective clause to an independent clause to form a complex sentence

• Many young Indonesian don't recognize Suharto who ruled the country for more than thirty years.

• He was the president whom many groups fought against.

• Communism is an ideology which is not popular among young Indonesians.

• The Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) that contains much vitamin C is an Australian native superfood.

• Elephants whose tusks are smuggled in were poached deep within Botswana.

• It was in 1999 when Suharto stepped down.

• You must stop at the Border Post where the security officers check your passport.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

• An adverbial clause is a group of words that plays the role of an adverb. 

• Adverb clauses modify verbs and begin with subordinating conjunctions. 

Here are some examples of adverbial clause.

• As she was bright and ambitious

• Although my friends begged me

• Once they saw it turn the corner

• Wherever you like

• Since you are coming over anyway

• Unless he studies very hard

• Whereas his brother had more enemies than friends

Let's attach the adverbial clause to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.

• As she was bright and ambitious, she became a manager in no time.

• Although my friends begged me, I chose not to go to the reunion.

• The dogs started chasing my car once they saw it turn the corner.

• You can put the package wherever you like.

• Since you are coming over anyway, why don't you bring your bike?

• He won’t go to university unless he studies very hard.

• Joseph was very popular whereas his brother had more enemies than friends.

COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

• Compound-complex sentences are the most complicated sentences.

• A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• Because compound-complex sentences are normally longer than other sentences, it is very important to punctuate them correctly. 

Study the compound-complex sentences below. The independent clause (compound) is in red; the dependent clause is in green.

• When we won the state championship, the team captain jumped for joy, and the fans cheered. 

• Kimberly doesn't like cartoons because they loud, so she doesn't watch them. 

• I went shopping, but I forgot my shopping list even though it was next to my car keys. 

Check your comprehension on DEPENDENT CLAUSES.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

I had a milkshake for dinner because I couldn’t chew anything.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

We will go to the game even if it rains.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

Do you know what the weather will be?

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

I’m packing extra snacks for when we get hungry.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

The bad weather is the reason why I decided to drive instead of walk.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

Monday is the day when I have my doctor's appointment.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

Whoever leaves last should turn off the lights.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVEERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

My hope is that all members of this community become familiar to each other.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

Marie Curie is the woman that discovered radium.

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERB CLAUSE

Multiple Choice

There's a boy in grade nine whose mother is a professional tennis player

• NOUN CLAUSE

• ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

• ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

Read each sentence below, and identify if it .... !

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

There is the mountain that we are going to climb.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

Inflammatory responses can cause virus replication and reduce infection, but inflammation has also been able to spread a large number of viruses.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

Lifestyle change in recent years developed diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic liver disease

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

It has been proven that there is a type of chronic inflammation called meta-inflammation in overweight people.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

If we care about our health and that of our family, we must seriously avoid eating high-calorie, high-salt, fast-food, and unproductive foods and we need to increase the longevity and quality of life for ourselves and our families by replacing them by healthy foods.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

Contactless instruments like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robots, digital collaboration, image recognition, virtual workspaces, and online conferences have got huge impetus.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

The changes which are introduced "just temporarily" to save the lives would change the principles with which we will live in the future, perhaps permanently.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

Doing is not a problem; it is the starting of something new that complicates the attempt.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE

Multiple Choice

There is a successive and significant improvement in the employment record and everything indicates that it will continue to be positive, and even more positive.

• SIMPLE SENTENCE

• COMPOUND SENTENCE

• COMPLEX SENTENCE

• COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE