Exploring Sentence Structures: A Guide for ESL Students

As English Language Learners, it’s important to familiarize yourself with different sentence structures to enhance your writing and communication skills. By understanding and using various sentence structures in your writing, you can express yourself more effectively and convey your thoughts with clarity.

In this blog, I will explore different sentence structures and provide examples to help YOU develop your writing and gain confidence. 

To begin, there are four types of sentence structures. However, before we dive into each type, let’s talk about the terms independent clause and dependent clause. 

An independent clause is a complete thought and sentence.

➡️ She ate a cookie. (complete thought) 

A dependent clause is an incomplete thought and sentence.

➡️ Before the movie (incomplete thought)

When learning new sentence structures, you will commonly hear or see instructors talking about the two terms above, so get comfortable with these!

Now, let’s take a look at our four-sentence structures.

✏️ Simple Sentence: A simple sentence consists of a subject and a predicate, expressing a complete thought. It contains one independent clause and does not include dependent clauses. Simple sentences are straightforward and concise.

➡️ Sarah runs every morning.

➡️ My dog sleeps on the couch. 

✏️ Compound Sentences: Compound sentences combine two or more simple sentences using coordinating conjunctions or semicolons. These sentences highlight the relationship between ideas and add variety to your writing. 

Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

➡️ I went to the store, and I bought some milk.

➡️ She studied hard for the exam, but she did not pass. 

✏️ Complex sentences: Complex sentences consist of one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Dependent clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences and rely on the main clause to convey meaning. They provide additional information or express a relationship between ideas. Dependent clauses typically begin with marker words. 

Marker words: although, even though, unless, whenever, etc.

➡️ Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk. 

➡️ Considering she went to bed at midnight, she still did well on her exam. 

*note that the part of the sentence that cannot stand alone is the dependent clause. When you read it without the second part of your sentence, you will notice that there’s information missing to complete the thought.*

Take a moment to reflect. Are these dependent clauses complete thoughts?

Although it was raining… [What happens although it is raining?]

Considering she went to bed at midnight… [What do I have to consider?]

✏️  Compound-complex sentences: This sentence structure contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Compound-complex sentences allow for the expression of more detailed relationships between ideas.

➡️ I went to the party, and my friend came too, even though she was sick. 

➡️ Whether it rains or snows, Sarah and Mike always walk to school, but their parents ask them to call home when they arrive. 

Now that you know these four sentence types, take the time to practice and familiarize yourself with these different structures, as well as coordinating conjunctions and marker words. Being able to effectively incorporate simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences into your writing will add depth, variety, and clarity to your writing style. 🎉

Download a handy Sentence Structures Cheat Sheet to help you practice these sentence types.

Your English Writing Coach, 

Sabrina 😊