What is a sentence?
A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought. In English, a simple sentence is made up of a subject + a verb + possibly an object. This sentence structure is sometimes represented as SVO.
What are the parts of a properly structured sentence?
To understand sentences, you must first understand clauses, which make up sentences. A clause is defined as a group of words containing both a subject and a verb. Clauses can be independent or dependent (also known as subordinate).
An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a sentence.
Example: The dog (subject) ran (verb) after the ball.
A dependent clause contains both a subject and a verb, but cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Example: ... because (subordinating conjunction) he loved to play fetch
Dependent clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as because, that, what, while, who, which, although, if, etc.
Example: The dog ran after the ball because (subordinating conjunction) he loved to play fetch.
What are the different kinds of sentences?
There are three kinds of sentences:
Simple:
A simple sentence consists of one main (or independent) clause. To be complete, a simple sentence must have at least one subject and one verb.
Example: The man (subject) went (verb) to the store.
Compound:
A compound sentence has at least two main (or independent) clauses, connected by coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Each clause has its own subject(s) and verb(s).
Example: The man went to the store, and the sales clerk sold him some milk.
First independent clause: The man went to the store
Coordinating conjunction: and
Second independent clause: the sales clerk sold him some milk
The second clause should be separated from the ?rst by a comma in front of the coordinating conjunction.
Complex:
A complex sentence has at least one main (or independent) clause and at least one dependent (or subordinate) clause.
Example: When an atom is split, it releases neutrons.
Dependent clause: When an atom is split
Independent clause: it releases neutrons
See more information on types of dependent clauses in this LibGuide: Using Dependent Clauses Effectively.