Basic Sentence Structure - Types, How to Make Sentences, Examples

The basic English sentence structure can be formed by the following rule- 

Subject + Verb + Object

The subject in a sentence is the one performing an action, the verb is action and the object is the one that receives the action. 

Alternatively, in the English language sentence structure:

1. We name a person, place or thing, and
2. Say something about that person, place or thing. 

The part of a sentence that names a person or thing (noun) is called the Subject of the sentence. The part of the sentence that tells something about the Subject is called the Predicate (verb or clause). 

The Subject can be present at both the beginning and end of the sentence structure. For example, 

• Here comes the bus. 
• The bus is about to come.

In both of the above examples, the bus is the Subject and the rest is the Predicate.

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There are three types of sentences in English: simple, compound, and complex. Check out a brief description and definition of each English language sentence type below:

Simple Sentences

Simple sentences in English have only one Subject and one Predicate. In other words, a Simple sentence is one that has only one subject, one finite verb and/or an object or modifier. 

For example, “His courage won him honour”.

Compound Sentences

A Compound sentence has at least two parts or phrases often joined by a coordinating conjunction. Each of these parts has its own subject and predicate and makes good sense by itself, independent of each other. Each of these parts with one complete meaning is called Principal or Main CLause. Hence, this also gives the definition of the Compound Sentences. 

Compound sentences are defined as sentences having two or more Principal/Main Clauses. 

For example, “The moon was bright and we could see our way”.

Explanation: in the above example, there are two main clauses, i.e. “the moon was bright” and “we could see our way”. Both of these phrases have a complete sense of their own and can stand independently. Hence, both of these are main clauses. 

Complex Sentences 

Complex sentences also consist of two or more phrases that can or cannot have a complete sense of their own. Dependent/subordinate clauses are the ones that do not have a complete sense of their own until they combine with an independent clause. 

Hence, a Complex sentence can be defined as a sentence as the one that has a main clause and one or more subordinate clause(s). 

For example: “They rested when evening came.”

Explanation: in the above example, the clause “They rested” is independent and has a complete sense of its own. However, the clause ”when evening came” does not have a complete sense and is thus a subordinate clause. 

Check out the examples of the simple, compound and complex sentences below.

When we make a sentence in English:

1. We name a person, place or thing, and
2. Say something about that person, place or thing. 

The part of a sentence that names a person or thing (noun) is called the Subject of the sentence. The part of the sentence that tells something about the Subject is called the Predicate (verb or clause). 

The Subject can be present both at the beginning and at the end of the sentence. For example, 

• Here comes the bus. 
• The bus is about to come.

In both of the above examples, the bus is the Subject and the rest is the Predicate.

Seemingly easy, however, the sentences in English grammar vary slightly with each case. To learn these variations, let us now understand the different components of sentence structure. 

Rules of Making Sentence Structure in English 

Here are the rules for making sentences in English - 

1. The first letter of a sentence in English is always in capital form. Alongside, the first letter of every line in poetry is also capitalised. 
2. Apart from the first letter, only proper nouns and adjectives derived from them are capitalised within a sentence. 
3. All nouns and pronouns which indicate a deity are capitalised.
4. The pronoun “I” and the interjection “O” are capitalised. 
5. A Subject is present only once in a sentence. 
6. Apart from the Subject, the sentence contains a verb and the verb phrase. A sentence should have at least one complete idea, also called as an independent clause.
7. All English sentences end with either a punctuation mark (“?”), a full stop (“.”) or a question mark (“?”).

Identify which of the following sentences are simple, compound and complex sentences. 

1. I shall do it now or I shall not do it at all. 
2. The horse reared and the rider was thrown. 
3. The town in which I live is very large. 
4. I returned home because I was tired. 
5. Listen carefully and take notes.

Answers:

1. Compound Sentence. Explanation: The given sentence has two independent clauses.
2. Compound Sentence. Explanation: The given sentence has two independent clauses.
3. Complex Sentence. Explanation: “The town is very large” is an independent clause and “in which I live” is a dependent clause.
4. Compound Sentence. Explanation: The given sentence has two independent clauses.
5. Compound Sentence. Explanation: The given sentence has two independent clauses.

This was all about the sentence structure in English Grammar. For more such lessons, check out IELTS A1 Grammar.