Sentence Structures

• Simple: one lone independent clause (no subordinate clauses):

  • The weather in Humboldt County depresses my parents.

• Compound: two or more independent clauses joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a colon:

  • The weather in Humboldt County depresses my parents, so they rarely visit me.

• Complex: one independent clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses:

  • Because the weather in Humboldt County depresses my parents, I make frequent trips to the Bay Area.

• Compound-Complex: two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate (dependent) clause:

  • Because the weather in Humboldt County depresses my parents, they rarely visit me, so I have to make frequent trips to the Bay Area.

Sentence Patterns

• subject / intransitive verb:
  • Speed kills.
  • Spearmint spreads like wildfire.
• subject / intransitive verb / subject complement:
  • Time is money.
  • A friend in need is a friend indeed.
• subject / transitive verb / direct object:
  • Vegetarians avoid meat.
  • Dentists recommend frequent brushing and flossing.
• subject / transitive verb / indirect object / direct object:
  • The Bill of Rights guarantees us certain rights.
  • Give me liberty or give me death.
• subject / transitive verb / direct object / object complement:
  • Insecurity makes people timid.
  • Without technology, petty tasks would keep us slaves.

Updated: 08.18.07