2. Contents
I. Introduction to sentences
II. Kinds of sentences
1. Simple Sentences
2. Compound Sentences
3. Complex Sentences
4. Compound-Complex Sentences
III.Summary
IV. References 2
3. I. Introduction to Sentences Structure
3
Thank goodness for sentences and sentence
structure! Without sentences, we'd probably all be
walking around like a bunch of babbling idiots.
See. They're pretty important. Let's show them
some respect and learn more about them!
Okay, now it's time for us to explore its
definitions and its types!
4. 4
What is a sentence?
• A sentence is a group of words that we can use
to communicate our ideas.
• A sentence is a group of words that usually
contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a
complete idea. (Longman dictionary)
Every sentences is formed from one or more
clauses and express a complete thought.
I. Introduction to Sentences Structure
5. II. Kinds of Sentences
There are four kinds of sentences as:
- Simple sentence
- Compound sentences
- Complex sentences
- Compound-complex sentences
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6. 1. Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is one independent clause.
Ex:
Freshwater boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea
level.
Dara and Lida study at the same school.
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7. Simple subject with simple verb
S+ V+ C.
Ex:
We did assignment at Tela Mart.
Room A403 is my English classroom.
Applied Linguistic is an important subject.
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1. Simple Sentences(con.)
8. 8
Compound subject with simple verb
S+ Conj.+S+ V+ C.
Ex:
Chetra and Leaphea are in group4.
Sambor and Kesor are a couple.
Nita or Pisey stays at home.
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1. Simple Sentences(con.)
9. 99
Simple subject with compound verb
S+ V+ Conj.+ V+ C.
Ex:
Dara goes to school at seven o’clock and comes
back home at eleven o’clock everyday.
Menghoir talks on phone with Seavhong until
midnight and gets up at eleven o’clock in the
morning.
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1. Simple Sentences(con.)
10. 101010
Compound subject with compound verb
S+ Conj.+ S+ V+ Conj.+ V+ C.
Ex:
Menghoir and Chetra did the assignment and
drank fresh water at Tela Mart.
Seyla and Leaphea play facebook but don’t like
my photos.
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1. Simple Sentences(con.)
11. 2. Compound Sentences
A compound sentences is two or more independent
clause joined together.
Ex: They study at the weekday, and they work at
the weekend.
There are three ways to join the clauses to become
a compound sentences.
- Join with a coordinator
- Join with a conjunctive adverb
- Join with a semicolon
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12. Compound sentences with coordinator
A compound sentence can be formed as follows:
Independent clause, + coordinator +
independent clause.
Ex: Salt water boils at a lower temperature than
freshwater, so food cooks faster in saltwater.
There are seven coordinators, which are also called
coordinating conjunctions. You can remember them
by the phrase FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or,
Yet, So). 12
2. Compound sentences(con.)
13. 13
Coordinators Meaning
For To add a reason
And To add a similar, equal idea
Nor To add a negative equal idea
But To add an opposite idea
Or To add an alternative possibility
Yet To add an unexpected or surprising
continuation
So To add an expected result
2. Compound sentences(con.)
14. Compound sentences with conjunctive adverbs
A second way to form a compound sentence is as
follow:
Independent clause; + conjunctive adverb, +
independent clause.
Ex: Salt water boils at a higher temperature than
freshwater; therefore, food cooks faster in salt
water.
Punctuation Note: Put a semicolon before and a
comma after the conjunctive adverb.
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2. Compound sentences(con.)
15. 15
Conjunctive
adverbs
Meaning
Also, beside, furthermore,
in addition, moreover
To add a similar, equal idea
However, nevertheless,
nonetheless, still
To add an unexpected or surprising
continuation
On the other hand, in
contrast
To add a complete contrast
otherwise To give an alternative possibility
Accordingly, as a result,
consequently, hence…
To add an expected result
For example, for instance To add an example
2. Compound sentences(con.)
16. Compound sentences with Semicolons
A third way to form a compound sentence is to
connect the two independent clauses with a
semicolon alone:
Ex: Three hundred guests attended his weeding ;
two attended his funeral.
This kind of compound sentence is possible only
when the two independent clauses are closely related
in meaning. If they are not closely related, they
should be written as two simple sentences, each
ending with a period.
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2. Compound sentences(con.)
17. 3. Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains one independent
clause and one (or more) dependent clauses(s). In
a complex sentence, one idea is generally more
important than the other one.
There are three kinds of dependent clauses such:
- Adverb clauses
- Adjective clauses
- Noun clauses
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18. Complex Sentences with adverb clauses
An adverb clauses acts like an adverb; that is, it
tells where, when, why, and how. An adverb
clauses beings with a subordinator, such as when,
while, because, although, if, so, or that. It can
come before or after an independent clause.
Ex: A citizen can vote in Cambodia when he or she
is 18 years old. 18
3. Complex Sentences(con.)
19. Complex Sentences with adjective clauses
An adjective clause acts like an adjective; that is, it
describes a noun or pronoun.
An adjective clause begins with a relative pronoun
such as who, whom, which, whose, or that, or with
relative adverb, such as where and when. It follows
the noun or pronoun it describes.
Ex: Last year we went to Sihaknok Ville, where is
the most beautiful beach in the world. 19
3. Complex Sentences(con.)
20. Complex Sentences with noun clauses
A noun clause beings with a wh- question word,
that, whether, and sometime if.
A noun clause acts like a noun; it can be either the
subject or an object of the independent clause.
Ex: The government says that the education policy
must be reformed next year.
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3. Complex Sentences(con.)
21. 4. Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence has at least three
clauses, at least two of which are independent. We
can use almost any combination of dependent and
independent clauses. Just be sure that there is at
least one independent clause.
Ex:
I wanted to travel after I graduated from
university; however, I had to go to work
immediately.
I could not decide where I should work or what I
should do, so at first I did nothing.
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22. 22
4. Compound-Complex Sentences(con.)
Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the
time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to
go with.
• independent clause: "I haven't had the time to go
lately"
• independent clause: "I haven't found anyone to
go with"
• dependent clause: "Although I like to go
camping... "
23. 23
III. Summary
1. Simple sentences
s+ v+ c
s+ conj +s +v+ c
s+ v+ conj+ v+ c
s+ conj+ s+ v+ conj+ v+ c
2. Compound sentence
Simple sentence+,+FANBOYS+simple sentence
Simple sentence+;+Simple sentence
Simple sentence+;+conjunctive adverb+,+ Simple sentence
24. III. Summary
3. Complex sentence
Independent clause+ dependent clause
Dependent clause+,+independent clause
4. Compound complex sentence
combination of two independent clauses and
one or more dependent clauses.
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25. IV. Reference
Chanra, N. (2012). Sentence Skills. Phnom Penh.
Kean Soklaing, Reach Rithy, Pann Rethae. (2011). Academic
Writing Year2 Semester1. Phnom Penh: CICI Publication.
Obrien, E. (2009). Grammar Revolution. Retrieved June 23,
2015, from http://www.english-grammar revolution
.com/sentence-structure.html
Learn American English Online. (2012). Retrieved June 23,
2015, from http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/
Orange%20Level/O5%20Compound Complex%20
Sentences.html
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