Sentence structure

English

Definition

The way words, phrases, and clauses are arranged to form sentences. Understanding sentence structure includes knowing the difference between simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences, and how varying structure improves writing flow and clarity.

Examples

  • Simple: "The dog barked."
  • Compound: "The dog barked, and the cat ran away."
  • Complex: "Although the dog barked, the cat stayed on the fence."

Related Terms

Punctuation Subject-verb agreement Self-editing Revision strategies

Study This Concept

Practice sentence structure with free review games in these units:

English 9 Unit 4: Grammar and Mechanics