Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

Exercise 2.2 Sentence Structures
Sentences: The Foundation of the Draft
Part 2. Writing the Draft

Study the following examples of sentence structures.

✵ Maria plays the flute in the school band. (simple)

✵ Sam enjoys sports, but his sister loves music. (compound)

✵ Whenever it snows, Will goes snowboarding. (complex)

The examples are three common sentence structures. Understanding these structures will help you to use different forms of sentences in your writing.

The first example is a simple sentence. It has one subject, Maria, and one predicate, plays.

The second example is a compound sentence. In a compound sentence, two separate sentences are connected with the words and, but, or, or nor. Note the subject, Sam, and the predicate, enjoys, in the first sentence. Note the subject, sister, and the predicate, loves, in the second. Also note that but is the connecting word.

The third example is a complex sentence. A complex sentence has one independent clause, which can stand alone as a simple sentence, and one dependent clause, which cannot. In the example, whenever it snows is the dependent clause, and Will goes snowboarding is the independent clause. (Independent clauses are also called main clauses, and dependent clauses are also called subordinate clauses.)

By using all three forms of sentences you will be able to vary your writing and present your ideas in an interesting manner. Write some examples of your own and identify the sentence structure of each. For additional practice with sentences, do Worksheets 2.1 and 2.2 at the end of this section.