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In this lesson, you’ll learn about the syntactic structures that make up sentences.
Now that we’ve reviewed the components of a sentence, from parts of speech to spelling to punctuation, we’ll look at the structures that make up a sentence.
Recall that a clause is a group of related words. We’ll begin our review of syntax with independent and dependent clauses.
An independent clause is a complete sentence that can stand on its own. Unless it is an imperative sentence, an independent clause has a subject (also called the noun) and a predicate (which contains the verb and related objects).
We walked.
The pendulum swung.
Time marched on.
A dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause) cannot stand on its own. Dependent clauses work with independent clauses to enhance the meaning of the sentence and can act as adjectives, adverbs, or even nouns.
Dependent clauses that act as adjectives are called adjective clauses or relative clauses. Notice that adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns (that, which, who, whom, whomever, whose) and are appositives.
Mark, who knew the area better than anyone else, was enlisted to help with the search.
The double somersault, which is the most complicated dive possible on our diving board, became my trademark.
Dependent clauses that act as adverbs are called adverb clauses. Adverb clauses begin with a subordinating conjunction (after, although, as, before, if, since, though, until, when, while).
Cassie knew she was almost home when she saw the sign for the bookstore.
Dynamite was the primary tool for railroad construction until “the machine” was invented.
Before Don signed the contract, he always liked to look it over one last time.
Dependent clauses that act as nouns are called noun clauses
Why the disaster happened will never be understood.
I’ve always wanted to know how roads are constructed.
Sentences can be categorized by purpose (see Interrogative Sentences in the previous section) or by structure. Here, we’ll review the four types of sentence structures.
Simple sentences are comprised of a single independent clause.
Dogs howled.
The panda bear clapped wildly.
Compound sentences consist of two independent clauses.
Audiences cheered and children shouted.
The cat left for a week and the dog rejoiced.
Complex sentences are made up of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Because of our trip to Milan, we had to postpone the reunion.
Only our forks know how much we ate for dinner.
Compound-complex sentences are made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clause.
If we’d known she was in Massachusetts, we could have visited her and she could have driven back with us.
You may have noticed that certain words dictate the structure and logic of a sentence.
Because introduces a specific cause using a dependent clause. The effect is usually in an independent clause in the same sentence. Note that because is often used in complex sentences.
Because the world is round, we have seasons.
I’m saving my pennies because I want to go to Maui next year.
If-then also helps describe a cause-and-effect relationship. However, if-then is used to describe a conditional relationship that has not occurred yet. Notice that the if-then construction and other correlatives are used in compound sentences.
If I save enough money, then I’ll go to Maui for a month.
Including connects an independent clause with a dependent clause. The dependent clause contains an item or items that fit into the category described in the independent clause. Note the complex sentence structure.
We traveled to all of the Hawaiian Islands, including Kauai and Oahu.
Mollie loved the beach, including the sand and the sound of the waves on the shore.
But and and are conjunctions that can connect two independent clauses (forming a compound sentence) or an independent clause and a dependent clause (forming a complex sentence). But precedes a clause that contradicts or further defines a previous clause. And precedes a clause that continues the thought of a previous clause.
We always wanted to go to Maui, but we never intended to stay forever.
Chasing rainbows doesn’t get you anywhere, and nowhere is a nice place to be.
Only can act as an adjective or adverb to indicate “this one and no other.”
I gave her my only map of downtown Paris.
Her teammates only wanted to win.