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Basic Sentence Structure

This document discusses basic sentence structure in English. It defines a simple sentence as having at least a subject and a verb, and can contain prepositional phrases. A simple sentence is also called an independent clause, as it can stand alone without being attached to another clause. Dependent or subordinate clauses are always found with an independent clause and use subordinating conjunctions like "after", "although", etc. When joining two independent clauses, a comma is used followed by a coordinating conjunction like "and", "but", or "so". When an independent clause follows a dependent clause, a comma is optional.

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4K views

Basic Sentence Structure

This document discusses basic sentence structure in English. It defines a simple sentence as having at least a subject and a verb, and can contain prepositional phrases. A simple sentence is also called an independent clause, as it can stand alone without being attached to another clause. Dependent or subordinate clauses are always found with an independent clause and use subordinating conjunctions like "after", "although", etc. When joining two independent clauses, a comma is used followed by a coordinating conjunction like "and", "but", or "so". When an independent clause follows a dependent clause, a comma is optional.

Uploaded by

Mehmet
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Sentence Structure

writing in English
A Simple Sentence

A simple sentence can be as little as a


subject and a verb.
 Example: What do you do? I teach.
 A simple sentence can be full of prepositional
phrases:
 The teacher in the classroom is teaching
grammar to the A-level students in a large
sunny room on the first floor of the school.
Independent Clause

A simple sentence is also called an


Independent Clause.
 It is a clause because it is a group of words
that has at least a subject and a verb.
 It’s indedendent because it doesn’t need
anything. It can stand alone.
Independent Clause, continued

 Some examples are:


 He plays guitar. (Subject Verb Object)
 He can play everything on the guitar!
(Subject x-word Verb Object + prespositional
phrase)
 My sister who lives in Arizona practices
speech pathology. ( Subject Relative clause
Verb Object)
Joining Two Independent Clauses

 When joining two independent clauses, you


will put a comma (,) after the first clause.
Next, you will use one of the following:
 For And Nor But Or Yet So
 ( for our writing we will mostly use And, But
or So)
 Finally, you will write the other independent
clause.
Joining Two Independent Clauses,
continued

 Examples:
 He wanted to pass the proficiency, so he
studied day and night.
 He’s a good student, and his sister is a good
student too.
 She wants to pass the test, but she doesn’t
want to study too much.
Dependent / Subordinate Clause

 Unlike independent clauses, dependent (or


subordinate) clauses are ALWAYS found
with an independent clause and are
preceded with a subordinating conjunction.
Some Subordinating Conjunctions:

after
although
as once
as soon as since
because the first time
before though
by the time unless
even if until
even though when
every time whenever
if while
in case
in the event that
just in case
now that
Joining Independent and Dependent
Clauses

 Ifthe independent clause comes first, you do


NOT need a comma.
 Examples:
 I prepared this presentation because I want
my students to pass the proficiency test.
 You won’t pass unless you study hard and
study often.
Joining Independent and Dependent
Clauses

 If the dependent clause comes first, you


ABSOLUTELY need a comma (,).
 Examples:
 Once you pass the test, you can start your faculty
classes.
 Even though some of the classes can be boring, the
information will help you for the test.

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