DSE English Must Know Sentence Structure Grammar

Simple Sentences: Simple Isn't as Simple Does 

A simple sentence has one independent clause. 

A simple sentence has one independent clause. That means it has one subject and one verb—although either or both can be compound. In addition, a simple sentence can have adjectives and adverbs. What a simple sentence can't have is another independent clause or any subordinate clauses. For example: 

• Americans eat more bananas than they eat any other fruit. 

• one subject, one verb 
• David Letterman and Jay Leno host talk shows. 
• compound subject, one verb 
• My son toasts and butters his bagel. 

one subject, compound verb 

Don't shun the simple sentence—it's no simpleton. The simple sentence served Ernest Hemingway well; with its help, macho man Ernie snagged a Nobel Prize in Literature. In the following excerpt from The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway uses the simple sentence to convey powerful emotions: 

• The driver started up the street. I settled back. Brett moved close to me. We sat close against each other. I put my arm around her and she rested against me comfortably. It was very hot and bright, and the houses looked sharply white. We turned out onto the Gran Via. 
• “Oh, Jake,” Brett said, “we could have had such a damned good time together.” 
• Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me. 
• “Yes,” I said. “Isn't it pretty to think so?” 

Okay, so it's a real downer. You think they give Nobels for happy talk? 

Compound Sentences: Compound Interest 

A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. 

A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. The independent clauses can be joined in one of two ways: 

• With a coordinating conjunction: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so 
• With a semicolon (;) 
• As with a simple sentence, a compound sentence can't have any subordinate clauses. Here are some compound sentences for your reading pleasure. 

Independent Clause	Conjunction or Semicolon	Independent Clause
Men are mammals	and	women are femammals.
Mushrooms grow in damp places	so	they look like umbrellas.
The largest mammals are found in the sea	;	there's nowhere else to put them.

You might also add a conjunctive adverb to this construction, as in this example: The largest mammals are found in the sea; after all, there's nowhere else to put them. 

Complex Sentences: Not So Complex at All 

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The independent clause is called the “main clause.” These sentences use subordinating conjunctions to link ideas. As you check out these examples, see if you can find the subordinating conjunctions. 

• Parallel lines never meet (independent clause) until (subordinating conjunction) you bend one of them (dependent clause). 
• Many dead animals of the past changed to oil (independent clause) while (subordinating conjunction) others preferred to be gas (dependent clause). 

• Even though (subordinating conjunction) the sun is a star (dependent clause), it knows how to change back to the sun in the daytime (independent clause). 

The subordinating conjunctions are until, while, and even though. 

Compound-Complex Sentences: The Big Kahuna 

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause can be part of the independent clause. For instance: 

When the heat comes,	the lakes dry up,
dependent clause	independent clause
and farmers know the crops will fail.
independent clause
I planned to drive to work,	but I couldn't
independent clause	independent clause
until the mechanic repaired my car.
dependent clause