Basic Sentence Structure
What is a Sentence?
The sentence is the basic element of English grammar. Sentences are composed of two parts: the subject and the predicate.
The Subject
The subject is the topic or main idea of the sentence. The subject will always contain a noun. A noun is a person, place, or thing.
The Predicate
The predicate is the part of the sentence that explains something about the subject. The predicate will contain a verb or action word.
An Example
Joe hit the ball.
In this example, the subject is Joe and the predicate is hit the ball.
Compound Sentence Structure
In everyday use, sentences are usually more complex than the example above, which uses a simple subject and simple predicate. Sentences may contain a compound subject, a compound predicate, or both.
An Example of a Compound Subject
Joe and Sue drove to the park.
In this example, the subject is Joe and Sue. There is more than one noun in the subject. Both Joe and Sue together are the subject of this sentence.
An Example of a Compound Predicate
Joe drove to the park and ate lunch there.
In this example, the predicate is drove to the park and ate lunch there. This is a compound predicate because it contains more than one part. In this example, the predicate has two verbs.
Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is a sentence that has both an independent and a dependent clause.
Clauses
Clauses are parts of a sentence. Clauses, like sentences, have subjects and predicates. The clauses within sentences may be either dependent or independent.
Independent Clause
An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. It has a complete subject and predicate and makes sense if it appears by itself.
Dependent Clause
A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses have a subject and a predicate but need the assistance of an independent clause to make sense and to be grammatically correct.
