Sentence Structure Lesson & Practice

A simple sentence is an independent clause.

Remember that in order for a sentence to an independent clause, it must have a subject and a predicate.

If the subject or predicate is missing, it is a fragment.​

Too many independent clauses put together without conjunctions or proper punctuation is called a run-on.​

A compound sentence is made of 2 independent clauses put together with a semicolon (;) or with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

Using a comma to combine 2 independent clauses is not a compound sentence; it is called a comma splice.

A complex sentence is made of 1 independent clauses and 1 dependent clause.

The dependent clause does not make sense on its own. It begins with a subordinating conjunction (AWUBIS) and has a subject and a predicate.

A compound-complex sentence is made of 2 independent clauses and 1 dependent clause.

The sentence should also have a FANBOYS, an AWUBIS, and proper punctuation.​