The Basics
[1] Simple Sentence
[Independent clause].
The dog is brown.
[2] Compound Sentences
[Independent clause], [Coordinating conjunction] [Independent clause].
The dog is brown, and he has a pink tongue.
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause].
The dog is brown; the cat is white.
[Independent clause]; [Conjunctive adverb], [Independent clause]. (Note: no comma needed after "so" or "otherwise")
The dog is brown, however, he looks black when wet.
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause]; [Independent clause].
The dog is brown; the cat is white; the ferret is black.
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause], [Coordinating conjunction] [Independent clause].
[Independent clause]; [Coordinating conjunction] [Independent clause]; [Independent clause].
[Short/simple Independent clause], [Short/simple independent clause], [Coordinating conjunction] [Short/simple independent clause].
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause]; [Conjunctive adverb], [Independent clause].
[Independent clause]: [Independent clause, phrase, or list]
Compound Elliptical
[Independent clause]; [Subject], [Direct object or Subject Compliment]; [Subject], [Direct object or Subject Compliment].
They both flew planes; she, a biplane; he, a jet.
[3] Complex Sentences
[Dependent clause], [Independent clause].
[Independent clause] [Dependent clause].
[1/2 Independent clause], [Nonessential information], [1/2 Independent clause].
Jason, who wears a yellow hat, doesn't like to sing.
[1/2 Independent clause] [Essential information] [1/2 Independent clause].
People who play video games rarely read novels.
[4] Dialog
"I never heard that," Jim said.
Jim said, "I never said that."
"Stop!" the fireman shouted.
What?" Karen asked.
"If it were me," Jim said, "I wouldn't have done it." (The quote is interrupted with an attribute)
"I don't like her," Jim said. "She is mean." (Two separate sentences)
"If it were me"--Jim's voice cracked with fear--"I wouldn't have done it." (Narrative interruption rather than attributive)
"If it were me--" Jim lowered his head "--I wouldn't have done it." (The narrative interruption occurs with an actual interruption in the spoken words.)
"I don't think--" (em dash indicates that the speaker was interrupted or cut off or stopped abruptly.)
[1] Simple Sentence
[Independent clause].
The dog is brown.
[2] Compound Sentences
[Independent clause], [Coordinating conjunction] [Independent clause].
The dog is brown, and he has a pink tongue.
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause].
The dog is brown; the cat is white.
[Independent clause]; [Conjunctive adverb], [Independent clause]. (Note: no comma needed after "so" or "otherwise")
The dog is brown, however, he looks black when wet.
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause]; [Independent clause].
The dog is brown; the cat is white; the ferret is black.
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause], [Coordinating conjunction] [Independent clause].
[Independent clause]; [Coordinating conjunction] [Independent clause]; [Independent clause].
[Short/simple Independent clause], [Short/simple independent clause], [Coordinating conjunction] [Short/simple independent clause].
[Independent clause]; [Independent clause]; [Conjunctive adverb], [Independent clause].
[Independent clause]: [Independent clause, phrase, or list]
Compound Elliptical
[Independent clause]; [Subject], [Direct object or Subject Compliment]; [Subject], [Direct object or Subject Compliment].
They both flew planes; she, a biplane; he, a jet.
[3] Complex Sentences
[Dependent clause], [Independent clause].
[Independent clause] [Dependent clause].
[1/2 Independent clause], [Nonessential information], [1/2 Independent clause].
Jason, who wears a yellow hat, doesn't like to sing.
[1/2 Independent clause] [Essential information] [1/2 Independent clause].
People who play video games rarely read novels.
[4] Dialog
"I never heard that," Jim said.
Jim said, "I never said that."
"Stop!" the fireman shouted.
What?" Karen asked.
"If it were me," Jim said, "I wouldn't have done it." (The quote is interrupted with an attribute)
"I don't like her," Jim said. "She is mean." (Two separate sentences)
"If it were me"--Jim's voice cracked with fear--"I wouldn't have done it." (Narrative interruption rather than attributive)
"If it were me--" Jim lowered his head "--I wouldn't have done it." (The narrative interruption occurs with an actual interruption in the spoken words.)
"I don't think--" (em dash indicates that the speaker was interrupted or cut off or stopped abruptly.)
| Sentence Structures |
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