English Sentence Structure: Step-by-Step for All Levels

1. Introduction to the Course: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Englo sentence tracture step by step for all levels. I'm Dina Turkani and I'm so excited to guide you through this journey of mastering English sentence structure in a clear and simple way. Have you ever written sentences and wondered, is this even correct or struggle to express your ideas clearly in English, even though you know the vocab. If that sounds familiar, you are in the right to place. In this course, I will be looking at simple sentences. We're going to learn how to form clear and correct sentences. We're going to look at compound sentences. We're going to discover how to connect ideas using fanboys. We'll be also looking at complex sentences. We're going to understand how to use subordinated conjunctions. We will be also looking at compound complex sentences. We will see how we can combine everything we've learned, and we will also look at fragments, run ons and comma splices, and how to fix them. Now, let me begin with an introduction to sentence structures. Now, let's understand first what a sentence is. Now, a sentence structure or a sentence itself is the foundation of effective communication. Now when we communicate, we should use words. However, if your words are not incorrect sentences or not in the right structure, what will happen? You're not going to deliver the right message or you're not going to convey, let's say, the right information. So when we talk about sentence structure, you should definitely understand how words and clauses combine to create meaning. So how do we put them together, the clause? And we should also understand that there are four primary sentence structures in English, and we should also learn how to master these structures to improve writing and communication skills. Again, remember that you use sentences to write and to speak. Now, why you should understand the sentence structure again, because wherever you go, you need to write and to say correct sentences. 2. Basic Sentence Components: Since I introduced sentence structures, now let's move to basic sentence components. When we look at a sentence or when we say a sentence, we should have a subject, a predicate a verb and an object. So it's a bit confusing. I'm going to look at each one. What is a subject? A subject tells us who or what the sentence is about. Now, who is talking in the sentence? I usually simplify this. Who is talking in the sentence? If I say Anna is reading a book, you should ask yourself, who is reading a book. So she is the person doing the action. If I say, let's say, the book is on the table. So the entire sentence is about the book. What is on the table? The book is on the table. And you cannot have a sentence without a subject. So you need a subject in a sentence, okay? In an affirmative sentence, let's say. Predicate is what comes after the subject. Tells us what the subject is doing or experiencing. Now, remember the sentence? Anna is reading a book. So what is Anna doing? She's reading a book. And the second part, which is the predicate that gives more information about the subject contains a verb. So when I say subject verb, the verb is part of the predicate. It's the actions of the verb is the action or state of being in the sentence. Anna reads every day. Uh huh. So reads is what Anna does, which is the action verb. In the sentence, Anna is tired. So is tired is the predicate. The verb shows a state of being shows us that Anna is tired. Number four is the object. The object comes after the verb. Anna reads a book. What does Anna or what does Anna read? So Anna reads a book. So the object is the person or thing receiving the action. The book here is the object, as I mentioned, because it receives the action of reading. So with time, you will get used to it. So subject, verb, and the object. The verb and the object, both of them belong to the predicate. Don't forget. Now let's look at the whole sentence. Anna, which is the subject, reads a book. Again, the predicate is reads a book. Who is talking in the sentence? Anna. What does Anna do? Reads. What does it read or what does she, sorry, read? She reads a book. So subject verb object. The verb and the object belong to the predicate. So both of them make the predicate. 3. Simpe Sentence Structure : If you have a subject verb and an object or we have subject and the predicate, here we are talking about a simple sentence structure. Subject verb and the predicate, sorry, subject and the predicate form a one independent or form one independent clause. It's one independent clause. Again, it includes a subject and a predicate, and it expresses a complete thought. Whenever we talk about sentences, the sentence should express a complete thought. What is a complete thought? When you read it, you understand it. You don't feel that there is something missing in that sentence. Example, students study linguistics. If you ask yourself, what does what does or what do students study? The answer will be linguistics. Who study linguistics? Students. What students do? They study. So the verb is there, the subject is there, the object is there, and there is a complete thought. And when we read the sentence, we could understand it or we already understood the sentence. So this is a complete thought. There here is another sentence. The dog barked loudly. Can you identify the subject and predicate in this sentence? Again, you should think who or what is the sentence about to find the subject. And what is it doing to find the predicate? So what is the sentence about? The sentence is about the dog. So here is the subject. And what did the dog do? So the dog barked loudly, so it's barked loudly. So bark loudly is the predicate. As you can see here, subject the dog, predicate barked loudly and here we have the dog is the subject. It's who the sentence is about. And bark loudly is the predicate. It tells us what the dog did. But 4. Compound Sentence Structure: Now, let's talk about compound sentence structure. Whenever you see the word compound, think of two sentences or two independent clauses. What is an independent clause, just to remind you, an independent clause is a complete thought, is a sentence that has a subject and a predicate, and it can stand alone. So once you read it, you understand it and nothing is missing. Now, compound sentences again, we're talking about two sentences, and we connect these two sentences with a coordinating conjunction. As you can see here I mentioned fanboys, I will explain fanboys in the next slide. So we connect them using a coordinating conjunction, and we need a comma before the coordinating conjunction. If you see the example here, students study linguistics. So this is one clause. Professors conduct research. This is another clause, another independent clause that can stand alone, and we connect these two with a comma. And sorry, coordinating conjunction, which is d. So there is a comma and there is end. So here is a sentence. Students study linguistics. We need a comma, so it's a must to have a comma. It's a must to have one of the fan boys that I'm going to explain, which is end and we have the second independent clause professors conduct research. This is basically a compound sentence. What are the fan boys? Now, each letter will help us to remember or helps us remember the seven coordinating conjunctions used to join two independent clauses. F for four, A for NN for NR, B for but O for O, Y for yet, S for. So that's why we put them all together in something called fan boys. Each letter, again, will help us remember the seven coordinating conjunctions. Now, we use four instead of B. So four here means because I stayed home. We put a comma. Four because I wasn't feeling well. As you can see, two sentences and there is a comma four. You know what is. Nor we use NR to add another negative idea. And when you add the negative idea, you are not supposed to use not. So nor here replaces not. He doesn't eat meat, nor does he drink milk. And with NR, we should use we should change the order of the subject and verb. So the verb comes first. So this is another rule. But so this is for contrast. I wanted to go out, however, but it started raining. A comma and we put but or do you want tea or would you prefer coffee? So this is for options if you want to choose. Yet means but or however. Yet guys has the same meaning as butt. He studied hard, yet he failed the exam. So these two, but and yet have the same meaning. The last one is so. So we use it as a result. So she was tired so she went to bed early. So the result, okay, she went to bed early. The most important thing to decide which coordinating conjunction or which fan boys you should choose, you should understand the meaning of both sentences and the connection. Is this whatever reason? Is this a result? Is this are we contrasting? Are we asking for options? Are we it depends on the reason? Okay? So based on that, based on the meaning of each sentence and and the relation between both, you choose the right coordinate and conjunction. 5. Compound Sentence Practice: Let's practice together, how to find the right fanboys and how to form compound sentences. Now, you will find this worksheet. Beneath the text, sorry, the video itself, so you can download it. Now, let's practice together. So have a look at the sentence. I'm going to zoom it in so that you can see it properly. Now, I'm going to use the pen to do the task with you. Now, we're going to read each sentence. We will have to circle the fanboys word and underline the two complete sentences. This is a very simple task, which you can stop the video and do the work. Now, this is the first sentence I want to go for a walk. There is a comma, and this is the coordinated conjunction, and then it started to ray. This is for the first one. You can have cake or you can eat ice cream. So you can have cake or is the coordinated conjunction. You can eat ice cream. He didn't study so what is the result? He failed the test. Can I say he didn't study and he failed the test? No. She plays the piano and which is the coordinated conjunction, she sings beautiful beautifully, beautifully. He didn't call nor did he send a message. Remember that Nor replaces not, and we should change the order of subject and verb. If I scroll down now, let's go to the second task. Complete the sentences. Before you complete, remember that you have to understand the connection between both sentences. To know which fan boys or which one or which coordinated conjunction you should use. I was late. I missed a bus. So if we're going to explain it or if we're going to paraphrase it or say it in a different way, we should say I was late. That's why I missed the bus or because I was late, I missed the bus. So the result here is I missed a bus. So the answer should be so I missed the bus. She tried her best. She didn't win. So one is negative. When a sentence is negative and the other one is positive, you should definitely use but so she tried her best, however, or yet. So you can use but, and also you can use yet, but I didn't give you the option here. You don't have yet. You can also you can say yet, too, because the meaning is the same. However, I didn't pass or she didn't, when it's not about passing. Do you want tea? Uh huh. And there is another option or coffee? Now, I did this one on purpose. This sentence, guys, is wrong. I'll tell you why. When you form a compound sentence, should you should have two sentences. Remember, two sentences, not two words to choose from. Do you want tea or coffee? Yes, it's correct, but you are not supposed to put a comma. How can I correct the sentence? Very simple. Let me correct it with you. I need to insert a box. Here to correct it. Okay, just a second. I have to correct the sentence. In order to correct the sentence, I should say, do you want to stop this one. Here we go. So it has to be, do you want tea or do you want coffee? So you should add do again, do you want? Do you want, do you want coffee? So here, it becomes correct. Not again, to form a compound sentence, you're not connecting words, you are connecting sentences. He is a smart. He is lazy. Uh huh. He is a smart. You can say, and he is lazy. Okay. So this makes sense. Because we are putting two adjectives, so he's a smart and he is lazy. I didn't see him. Did I, which is negative, nor did I. So I didn't see him nor nor did I. 6. Complex Sentence Practice: Now let's practice together, guys. I have the first part here about identifying the independent and dependent clauses. Now, what should you do in this task? You have to read the sentences and underline the independent clause, circle the dependent one and then highlight the subordinating conjunction. Remember that the subordinating conjunction comes with the dependent clause. The independent clause, it's independent, so it doesn't have any subordinating conjunction next to it. Okay. Now, let's first begin with highlighting the subordinated conjunctions. I want you to pause the video and think of subordinated conjunctions. Now, So let's answer them together. If you look at the first one, one of highlights. I'm going to use this one, the yellow one. Okay, so now, if you can see here, we have B. So this is a subordinating conjunction. The second sentence we have all though. So whether it comes in the middle or it comes at the beginning of the sentence, here we have unless. Guys, unless means if not. Here we have if and here we have sins. And remember, if it is in the middle, there will be no comma. Okay, so the sentence, the dependent clause, if the complex sentence begins with the dependent clause, we should put a comma in the middle. Now, let's underline and circle together the dependent and independent clause. So as I mentioned, the one with the subordinated conjunction is independent is the dependent clause. I'm going to circle it. And the one without is the independent clause. This one, although it was late, and she finished her homework. So he won't be able to attend the meeting. So this is independent clause, and he gets. So this is the dependent clause because it has the subordinate conjunction. If you study hard, if you study hard, what will happen? Mm hmm, you will pass the exam. We went to the beach and we're going to circle this one. Let's scroll down and move to the next question. Now, we're going to complete the sentences now with the appropriate with the appropriate subordinate conjunction. Remember, to decide which one you should choose, you should understand as in compound sentences, you should understand the connection between both sentences because to mention the reason, although for contrast, if for possible situations when for time, less means if not. Okay. So instead of using if not, we use the word unless, so it's if plus not. This is negative. I will call you I arrive at the airport. Okay. Think of it. What can we use? I will call you when I arrive. So to mention the time, so it's when I arrive at the airport. So I will call you. Sorry. I will call you when I arrive at the airport. Let's write the answer together. So the answer here is when. It was raining. We went for a walk. It was raining, so we went for a walk. So although it was raining, we went for a walk. So nothing stopped us. She didn't go to the park. Why? What was the reason? Because she was tired. Ah, I forgot something. So here is without a comma, so fine, this is correct. Next, we have I will be happy you finish your homework. If you finish your homework, I will be happy. You cannot leave unless you ask for permission. So if you don't ask, if you're going to explain it or say it in a different way, you should say, if you don't ask for permission, you can't leave. Did you get it? So here we use unless. Now, let's move to the third question or the third task. You will write your own complex sentences. Now, I have I like tea, I don't like coffee. So what can we use? Now, to form a complex sentence, we can say, although I like tea. I don't do not, or I don't like coffee. Very simple and easy. So although I like tea, I don't like coffee. This is one. The second, he studied hard. He didn't pass. So what can we say here? He didn't pass the test. What can we use guys here with this one? So pause the video and think about it. So here we can use Although again. Let's use another one. That gives us the same meaning. So we can say, even though even though it's the same as Al though, even though he studied hard, he did not pass the test. Now, there is another way you can do it the other way around. So you can say, for instance, he did not pass the exam. He did not. So this is the second way of doing it. He didn't pass the test. There is no commissory even though he studied hard. Remember that you don't put a comma when the subordinating sorry, subordinating conjunction is in the middle. She went to bed early. She had a busy day tomorrow. So that was the reason, right? So there is a reason connection. So she went to bed, sorry, to bed early. Why was that? Because she had a busy day. No, we cannot say a busy day tomorrow, right? She had a busy now, she will have a busy day tomorrow, so this is wrong. I don't know how is that, but I'm going to remove tomorrow from you, sorry. Because she had a busy day. Next, I enjoy reading, but I don't have much time for it. So it's the same. Although I enjoy reading, I don't have although I enjoy reading pokama. I do not or I don't have much time for it falls up. So we begin with Although and we put the comma in the middle. I don't have much time for it. So you will find this worksheet so you can download it yourself and do the task. If you need help, for sure, you can watch the video first and then answer the questions, or you can do the worksheet and then watch the video to make sure or to double check with me. The answer key will be at the end of this worksheet. So if you don't want to watch the video, here you decide. 7. Compound- Complex Sentence : The last type of sentence structure is called a compound complex sentence. If you can see here, we have a long sentence. Students study linguistics, and when they research deeply, they gain profound insights. Now, if I ask you how many sentence we have, you're going to say three. So this is the first one, the second one, and the third one. Now, when we talk about compound complex sentence structure, you should think of three sentences. Now, in a compound complex sentence, you're going to have a sentence that combines two structures, a compound sentence. So when we think of a compound, we think of two sentences. You remember, two independent clauses with the fan boys. And a complex sentence that has one or more dependent clauses. So a compound complex has at least two independent clause and one independent clause. So two independent and one dependent clause. Remember the dependent one with the subordinating conjunction that cannot stand alone. Now, let's look at the structure example now. I'm going to look at independent clause, independent clause, and dependent. So what should we do? I want to go for a walk. So this is the independent. We put a comma. And the weather was nice. So this is another independent. Why is that? So this is the dependent clause because I had finished my homework. So two independent, one dependent. While with the two dependent ones, independent, sorry, we need a comma, and we need a coordinated conjunction, one of the fan boys that I explained in the previous lesson. Next, two independent clauses. I wanted to go for a walk. The weather was nice and one dependent clause. I had finished my homework. So the same thing here, two independent and one dependent. Here is another example but with a different structure. Now, we're going to start with the dependent clause, and then the independent the independent clauses come at the end. So although she was tired, so this is the dependent one with the subordinated conjunction. Although, she finished the project. And she emailed it to her teacher. So the first dependent clause and then one independent. And this is the second dependent. Now, if you notice here, the two independent clauses form a compound sentence because we have here. And the first one is the dependent clause. So although she was tired, she finished the project. If you put full stop, so this becomes a complex sentence. If we say she finished the project and she emailed it sorry to her teacher. So this is a compound. So this is a compound sentence. 8. Compound- Complex Sentence Practice: Now, let's practice together. We're going to identify the independent and dependent clauses. Now, what do we have here? We have to read each sentence and underline the independent clauses and circle the dependent clause in each sentence. Now, because it was snowing, we canceled the trip and we stayed inside. You can pause the video and think and then see the answers with me. Because it was snowing, so because it was a snowing, so this is the dependent clause because it has the subordinated conjunction. We cancel the trips. This is the first independent. We stayed inside, so this is the second independent clause. Now, the structure here is dependent, dependent, independent and independent. Don't forget the punctuation, the comma here, a comma here, and the full stop at the end. I studied hard, so this is independent. I passed the test independent, although I was nervous, dependent. So the structure here is different, independent, independent, dependent, one comma. Here we have two commas while she was cooking dinner. So this is dependent. The dependent clause. The kids played in the yard, the dog barked at the cat. So dependent, independent, and independent. So now, let's complete the sentences. We're going to use the given clauses to write a compound complex sentence, and the most important part here is to add punctuation and a conjunction if needed. Although I was late, I still made it on time. My friend waited for me. Although I was late, we put a comma. I still made it on time, another comma, and my friend waited for me. Remember, we need two commas, two. Because he was tired, he went to bed early and he didn't finish the movie. So how can we do this one? Very simple. Because he waited, so I think I have to write the answers. So we're going to write because he was tired. Okay, we should put a comma. He went to bed early another comma, and he did not finish the movie. Full stop. So we need one comma here and another comma here. And a full stop at the end. So if it's dependent, independent, independent, we need two commas. She was nervous. So she was nervous about the interview. She prepared while, and she got the job. She was nervous while she was nervous or although she was nervous, we can write Although. Although she was nervous about the interview a comma, she prepared well. And so the comma and then space, and she got the job. Okay, so it's the same thing. Two commas and a full stop at the end, if you'd like, like, to look at them again. So here is the answer. Now when the power went out, we lit candles. We played board games. For this one, I'm planning to or I would like to change the structure. So what can I say? We can do it this way. We played board games, a coma, and we lit candles when the power went out. When the power went out. I wanted, like to change the structure, but the meaning is fine. And we sorry, Wit candle. So we played board game. So this is independent. We put a comma. So we have two compounds. So we played board games and Willit candles, when the power went out. So when the power went out, guys, this one is the dependent clause. And remember that we don't need a comma when the subordinate conjunction or when the dependent clause is in the middle. Let's move on to the next one. Now, write to compound complex sentences using your own idea. So this you can do it yourself and you'll find there is an answer key at the end here, so you can see the answers if you would like to Okay. 9. Sentence Fragments: If your sentence does not express a complete thought. In other words, it is an incomplete sentence. Or if the sentence lacks an essential element, like a subject or a verb, so we call it a sentence fragment. How do you identify or how can we identify a fragment? You should ask yourself questions like, does this sentence have a subject? Who is talking in the sentence? Does it have a verb? Does it express a complete idea or a complete thought? If any of these are missing, it's probably a fragment. Now, here are examples of fragments because she was tired. This is incomplete thought. First of all, because this is a dependent clause, and we don't know what happened because the result here is the reason she was tired, but what happened to her? So this is incomplete. Running down the street Who? Who was running down the street. So no subject. We don't know who did the action or who was running. When we arrived at the station, it starts with a subordinated conjunction but doesn't finish the idea. So when we arrived at the station, what happened? If, for instance, I say, she happy, W is the verb? So the verb is missing. We should say she is happy. So the verb here is missing. So just I added another example of fragments. 10. Run-On Sentences: If your sentence does not express a complete thought. In other words, it is an incomplete sentence. Or if the sentence lacks an essential element, like a subject or a verb, so we call it a sentence fragment. How do you identify or how can we identify a fragment? You should ask yourself questions like, does this sentence have a subject? Who is talking in the sentence? Does it have a verb? Does it express a complete idea or a complete thought? If any of these are missing, it's probably a fragment. Now, here are examples of fragments because she was tired. This is incomplete thought. First of all, because this is a dependent clause, and we don't know what happened because the result here is the reason she was tired, but what happened to her? So this is incomplete. Running down the street Who? Who was running down the street. So no subject. We don't know who did the action or who was running. When we arrived at the station, it starts with a subordinated conjunction but doesn't finish the idea. So when we arrived at the station, what happened? If, for instance, I say, she happy, W is the verb? So the verb is missing. We should say she is happy. So the verb here is missing. So just I added another example of fragments. 11. Comma Splice: Now, the sentence, if we have, let's say, two independent clauses, complete sentences, but these two sentences are joined only with a comma. So if we join two sentences with a comma, this is grammatically incorrect. Here is an example, and we call this a comma splice. Here is an example. I love teaching English. It's my passion. Now, as you can see, we have two complete, correct sentences, two complete thoughts, and these two are connected by just a coma. So that's a Kama splice, and it is incorrect. We cannot combine or join or connect two sentences with a cama only with only a coama. So we should add a conjunction, a subordinating conjunction, coordinated conjunction. We can put a full stop and then start another sentence. Now, how to fix this, as I mentioned, you can use full stop or period. I love teaching English, full stop, and then you start in other sentence, and then you put a full stop. So here you will write different simple sentences. You can also use a semicolon. This is a way to explain what comes next. I love teaching English. We use a semicolon. It is my passion. So you like teaching English because it's your passions, we are explaining. Use a coordinated conjunction, like I love teaching English, and it is my passion. We put a comma, and then we need one of the fan boys to create or to have or to get a compound sentence. If you would like to use a subordinated conjunction and you want to keep the comma, make sure to start your sentence with a subordinating conjunction first.