120 hr. TEFL Course Module 4-Writing (Pt.5 Basic Sentence Structures)

Module 4: Writing

4.1.4    Basic sentence structure

With dependent and independent clauses under our belts, we can turn our attention back to sentence structure and look closely at how these clauses can work together to create and convey meaning.

Simple sentence: A simple sentence contains one independent clause that stands alone as a complete thought. This is the most basic type of sentence and creates the structure for more complex sentences. Here is an example of a sentence that follows the simple sentence structure:

Bobby drove his car to the store.

Compound sentence: A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses. These clauses could stand alone if they needed to but have been combined because they are related to each other. Here is an example of a sentence that follows the compound sentence structure: 

Bobby drove his car, and Mark read the directions.

Complex sentence: A complex sentence includes an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. This means that within the sentence are subject-verb pairs that would not be able to stand alone as a complete thought. Here is an example of a sentence that follows the complex sentence structure:

Bobby drove his car to the store to buy gum.

In this example, we have borrowed the simple sentence and added a dependent clause “to buy gum.” The subject (“Bobby”) is implied by the independent clause, and this dependent clause cannot stand alone and make sense.

Compound-complex sentence: A compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses, essentially combining the elements of a compound sentence with the elements of a complex sentence. Here is an example of a sentence that follows the compound-complex sentence structure:

Bobby drove his car, and Mark read the directions when they went to the store.