1. Sentence Structure
University of the Sacred Heart
Department of Humanities
Center for Language
Development Across the
Disciplines
LAD

2. Objective
To provide the student
with pointers on how to
construct sentences

3. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence has one
subject and one predicate

4. Simple Sentence
We went to San Juan yesterday.
Observe how a simple sentence is
constructed:

5. Simple Sentence
We went to San Juan .
Pronoun Verb
Simple
subject
Complete predicate
Prepositional phrase

6. Compound Sentence
 A compound sentence has more than
one part that can stand alone
(independent clauses)
Independent clauses are connected by
coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive
adverbs or a semi-colon.

7. Compound Sentence
We went to San Juan, and
most of us danced all night.

8. Compound Sentence
We went to San Juan,
and most of us danced all night .
Subject Verb
Coordinating
Conjunction
Predicate
Verb
Prepositional phrase
Modifying phraseSubject

9. Compound Sentences
 My parents caught a severe cold;
consequently, they had to cancel
their vacation.
Some people like basketball;
others prefer baseball.
Conjunctive
Adverb
Semi-colon

10. Complex Sentence
 A complex sentence has at least
two parts: one that can stand
alone and another one that
cannot
The part that cannot stand alone
is linked to the rest of the

11. Complex Sentence
Since my boyfriend and I wanted to have fun,
we went to San Juan yesterday.

12. Complex Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
we went to San Juan yesterday.
PredicateSubject
Subordinating
Conjunction
Part that cannot stand alone

13.  This type of sentence has more than
one part that can stand alone, and at
least one that cannot
 Notice how the different conjunctions
link the different parts of this sentence
Compound-Complex
Sentence

14. Compound-Complex
Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
my boyfriend and I went to San Juan yesterday,
and we danced all night.

15. Since we wanted to have fun,
my boyfriend and I went to San Juan,
and we danced all night.
Subject Predicate
Subordinating
Conjunction
Coordinating
Conjunction
Part that cannot stand alone
Compound-Complex
Sentence

16. For More Information
Index English Grammar and Composition
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.
Tons of Fun with Grammar
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/flin/103_handouts/sentences_an
Grammar Book Table of Contents
http://www.grammarbook.com/exercises/grammar/
cnt_gram.html

17. Thank You
Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines
Prepared by: Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago
Coordinator for the Center for Languages and Cultures
April-June 2003
Revised by: Patricia Kidd
August 2004
Revised by: Prof. Delia Serrano
January 2005