UNDERSTANDING

SENTENCE STRUCTURE
By Art Rekhtin

Based on Write for Business: A Compact Guide to Writing and Communicating in the Work Place by Meyer, Sebranek, and Van rys

Outline of Presentation
Part 1 : TYPES OF CLAUSES A. Independent vs dependent clauses B. Adverb clauses C. Adjective clauses D. Noun clauses Part 2 : TYPES OF SENTENCES A. Simple B. Compound C. Complex D. Complex-compound Part 3: CONCLUSION

Part 1 : Independent Clause

AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE has both a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought; it can stand alone.
EXAMPLE:

An answering machine can record messages, but voice mail

can do so much more.

Part 1 : Dependent Clause

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE cannot stand alone. It can, however, add important details to a sentence.
EXAMPLE:

When there is no one available to take calls, your voicemail can

take messages.

Part 1 : Adverb Clause

AN ADVERB CLAUSE answers how? where?

when? why? how much? or under what condition? Adverb clauses begin with a
subordinating conjunction (e.g. if)
EXAMPLE:

When your sales staff is on the road, voicemail enables you to

leave timely messages.

Part 1 : Adjective Clause

AN ADJECTIVE CLAUSE is used to modify a noun or a pronoun by answering the questions what kind? or which one?
EXAMPLE:

The person who invented the telephone would marvel at communications today.

Part 1 : Noun Clause

A NOUN CLAUSE is used as a noun and can be used as a subject, an object, or a complement.
EXAMPLE:

What made voice mail work was

combining the telephone and the computer.

Part 2 : Simple Sentences

A SIMPLE SENTENCE has only one clause. Therefore, it has only one subject and predicate.
EXAMPLE: The subject or the predicate may be single or compound.
My dogs bark. (simple subject/simple predicate) My dogs and my cat fraternize. (cS; sP) Their barking and yowling can startle and annoy. (cS;cP)

Part 2 : Compound Sentences

A COMPOUND SENTENCE has two or more independent clauses without any dependent clauses. They are most often joined by a coordinating conjunction, punctuation or both. Note: FANBOYS is a mnemonic device for coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

Part 2 : Compound Sentences

EXAMPLES:

The dogs get weekly baths, so what is that smell? It cant be the cat; Missy is a fastidious selfgroomer.
Also correlative conjunctions can be used.

Either the dogs got into the garbage or Missys been mouse hunting

Part 2 : Complex Sentences

A COMPLEX SENTENCE has only one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Examples: When the weather is nice, I walk the dogs for several miles. When we get to the parkway, and if there are only a few people around, Felix and Hairy can run free.

Part 2 : Compound-Complex Sentences

A COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE has two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

If Im feeling spunky, I run, too, but I can

never keep up with my dogs

CONCLUSION
In general, varying sentence structure will enhance your writing style, making it more interesting and engaging.
Remember, though, that clarity is still the single most important quality of good writing!

Thank you!