Sentence Structure and Clauses

Grade 6 · English · Study Guide

Understand the building blocks of sentences, including clauses, phrases, and the four sentence types.

A sentence is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (verb) and expresses a complete thought. Understanding how sentences are built helps you write more clearly and with greater variety.

The two basic building blocks of sentences are clauses and phrases. A clause contains both a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. A dependent (or subordinate) clause also has a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand alone — it depends on an independent clause to make sense. For example, 'Because it was raining' is a dependent clause; it needs more information to be complete.

Based on how clauses are combined, there are four sentence structures: simple (one independent clause), compound (two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction like 'and,' 'but,' or 'so'), complex (one independent clause plus at least one dependent clause), and compound-complex (at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses).

Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) join independent clauses in compound sentences. Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, when, if, unless) introduce dependent clauses in complex sentences.

Using a variety of sentence structures makes your writing more engaging and avoids the choppy feel of too many simple sentences in a row.

Key terms

Independent clause
A clause that contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Dependent clause
A clause that has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; it depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning.
Simple sentence
A sentence consisting of one independent clause.
Compound sentence
A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.
Complex sentence
A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Subordinating conjunction
A word (because, although, when, if) that introduces a dependent clause and connects it to an independent clause.

Flashcards

Clause
A group of words containing a subject and a verb.
Independent clause
A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
Dependent clause
A clause that cannot stand alone; it needs an independent clause to complete its meaning.
Simple sentence
A sentence with only one independent clause.
Compound sentence
A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.
Complex sentence
A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Compound-complex sentence
A sentence with at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
FANBOYS
Acronym for the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

Questions

  1. Which sentence is an example of a compound sentence?

    1. The dog barked loudly.
    2. Because the dog barked, the cat ran away.
    3. The dog barked, and the cat ran away.
    4. The dog that barked was very loud.
    Show answer

    Answer: The dog barked, and the cat ran away.

    A compound sentence joins two independent clauses ('The dog barked' + 'the cat ran away') with a coordinating conjunction ('and').

  2. A dependent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    A dependent clause cannot stand alone because it does not express a complete thought on its own.

  3. The acronym FANBOYS stands for the seven ______ conjunctions used to join independent clauses.

    Show answer

    Answer: coordinating

    FANBOYS stands for the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

  4. What type of sentence is: 'Although she studied hard, she still found the test difficult, and she asked for extra help'?

    1. Simple
    2. Compound
    3. Complex
    4. Compound-complex
    Show answer

    Answer: Compound-complex

    This sentence has two independent clauses ('she still found the test difficult' and 'she asked for extra help') and one dependent clause ('Although she studied hard'), making it compound-complex.

  5. A simple sentence can have more than one subject or more than one verb.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    A simple sentence has one independent clause but can have a compound subject (e.g., 'Jake and Maya') or compound predicate (e.g., 'ran and jumped').

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