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Sentence Structure

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He walked.

Maria laughed.

Bruce snorted.

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Simple Sentences

  1. Subject - who is doing something?
  2. Verb - what are they doing?
    1. If you cannot answer these two questions, it is NOT a sentence

Subject + Verb = simple sentence

  • Expresses one idea
  • Independent Clause

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Find the subject and verb in these sentences

Neither of them moved. (p 26)

The boy grinned. (p 26)

The Jesse gave a great whoop and leapt into the stream. (p 44)

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What do you notice about this sentence?

Stan was right there, completely out of the water, for a moment that will live forever in infamy.

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Dependent Clause

(aka subordinate clause)

  • Can’t stand alone

Independent Clause

  • Can stand alone
  • May have dependent clauses that lean on them for support

Dependent Clause + Independent Clause

Independent Clause + Dependent Clause

Independent + Dependent Clause + Clause

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Complex Sentences

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Find the independent & dependent clauses.

Mr. Patterson walked out, all smiles, carrying a wooden display case stocked with books.

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So, with the sun riding high now in the sky, they started off again, noisy in the August stillness, eating bread and cheese.

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Compound Sentences

Sentence + Conjunction + sentence

  • two simple sentences
  • joined together by a comma and a joining word (coordinating conjunction).

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“Sassy Sentences” mini-book

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Adding Variety to Sentences

Adding sentence variety to your writing will do three things:

  1. enhance the flow of ideas
  2. intensify points
  3. sustain the interest of your reader.

Varying the length, rhythm and structure of sentences are three ways to create variety and interest in your writing.

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B. Use front loaded, end loaded and balanced sentences to vary rhythm and create emphasis.

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C. Vary sentence beginnings using different parts of speech

  1. Start the sentence with an -ly word (adverb)
    1. (Cautiously, the doctor approached the patient)
  2. Begin with adjectives
    • (Exhausted and dirty, Jane collapsed on the couch)
  3. Introduce a prepositional phrase
    • After the attempt on his life, the pope did not restrict his travel.
  4. Begin with a verb phrase
    • Worried that his computer may be stolen, the student placed it in his locker
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