This Sentence Structure Practice Presentation is a dynamic and student-friendly resource designed to help learners identify, understand, and construct different types of sentences with clarity and confidence. The PowerPoint covers essential sentence structures—including simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences—with clear explanations, examples, and interactive practice activities. Each slide encourages active participation and critical thinking, making grammar practice both meaningful and enjoyable. Perfect for ESL and mainstream English classes, this presentation can be used for whole-class instruction, small group work, or independent practice. It's ideal for reviewing sentence construction skills and improving writing fluency.

1. SENTENCE
STRUCTURES
W r i t i n g C o n v e n t i o n s

2. TODAY’S LESSON OBJECTIVES
• Review the basics of
sentence writing
• Learn about 5 common
sentence structures
• Apply learning by
attempting to write each
sentence structure

3. WHAT IS A SENTENCE?
A sentence is a group of words that
expresses a complete thought and contains
a subject and a verb.
For example: The dog barked.
In the sentence above, “The dog” is the
subject and “barked” is the verb. It
communicates a complete thought as well.
We will explore more advanced sentence
structures to utilize in your writing.

4. • Compound Sentence
• Complex Sentence
• Sentence beginning with a Gerund
• Sentence beginning with a Participial Phrase
• Compound Sentence with an Adverbial
Conjunction
COMMON SENTENCE
STRUCTURES
The following sentence structures are great building blocks
to stronger, more varied writing.

5. A compound sentence is when two
complete sentences are connected
by a comma and a conjunction.
COMPOUND SENTENCE
Common conjunctions include:
and, but, or, nor, so, yet
complete sentence + comma + conjunction + complete sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:

6. Markus tripped on the steps, and his friends laughed
loudly.
Mia likes cooking dinner for the family, but she doesn’t
clean.
Manny overslept, yet he got to school on
time.
We could go to lunch, or we could see a
movie.
I cannot sing, so I danced in the show
instead.
EXAMPLE COMPOUND
SENTENCES

7. COMPOUND SENTENCE
PRACTICE
On your own piece of paper, practice writing the following
sentences:
1. A compound sentence using the conjunction
“and”
2. A compound sentence using the conjunction
“but”
3. A compound sentence using the conjunction
“or”
complete sentence + comma + conjunction + complete sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:

8. COMPLEX SENTENCE
A complex sentence is a sentence that starts
with a dependent clause followed by a
comma and a complete sentence.
Some complex sentence starters include:
After, As, Before, If, Since, and When
dependent clause + comma + complete sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:

9. EXAMPLE COMPLEX
SENTENCES
After school, I have to go to soccer
practice.
As I thought about the big game, I got
nervous.
When she said that, I was confused and
upset.
Before I go shopping, I must stop at the
bank.
Since he returned, he has reconsidered
things.

10. COMPLEX SENTENCE PRACTICE
1. A complex sentence starting with “After”
2. A complex sentence starting with “During”
3. A complex sentence starting with “Since”
dependent clause + comma + complete sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:
On your own piece of paper, practice writing the following
sentences:

11. SENTENCE BEGINNING WITH A
GERUND
“-ing” word + a statement about that activity.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:
A gerund is a verb that
functions as a noun.
A sentence beginning with a
gerund is a statement about
an activity in the “-ing” form.

12. Reading is something I enjoy doing most days during the
summer.
Dancing can be a fun form of exercise for
many.
Traveling can expand people’s
perspectives.
Swimming is a great, low impact
activity.
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
BEGINNING WITH A GERUND

13. SENTENCE BEGINNING
WITH A GERUND PRACTICE
On your own piece of paper, practice writing the following sentences.:
1. A sentence beginning with a gerund that starts with
“Sharing”
2. A sentence beginning with a gerund that starts with
“Thinking”
“-ing” word + a statement about that activity.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:
3. A sentence beginning with a gerund that starts with
“Writing”

14. SENTENCE BEGINNING WITH A
PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
Phrase starting with an “-ing” word + comma + complete
sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:
This type of sentence has a dependent
clause that starts with an “-ing” word
followed by a comma and a complete
sentence.

15. Walking down the street, she waved at the
child.
Holding hands, the couple got some ice
cream.
Thinking about the test, the student got
nervous.
You know it is a successful sentence when you can take the
phrase, put it at the end of the sentence, and it still makes
sense.
EXAMPLE SENTENCES
BEGINNING
WITH A PARTICIPIAL PHRASE

16. On your own piece of paper, practice writing the following sentences:
Phrase starting with an “-ing” word + comma + complete
sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:
SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH
A PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
PRACTICE
1. A sentence beginning with a participial phrase that starts with
“Biking”
2. A sentence beginning with a participial phrase that starts with
“Talking”
3. A sentence beginning with a participial phrase that starts with
“Singing”

17. Compound Sentence with
an Adverbial Conjunction
A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that
is used to link closely related ideas in a
sentence. It serves several functions like
connecting two independent clauses or
separating complex list items.
This is type of sentence is similar to a regular compound sentence,
except it uses an adverbial conjunction and requires a semicolon and
a comma.

18. Compound Sentence with
an Adverbial Conjunction
An adverbial conjunction is a word that
connects two independent clauses that
help to clarify the connections between
ideas.
This is type of sentence is similar to a regular compound sentence,
except it uses an adverbial conjunction and requires a semicolon and
a comma.
Some examples include: however,
therefore, hence, consequently, and
nevertheless.

19. Compound Sentence with
an Adverbial Conjunction
This is type of sentence is similar to a
regular compound sentence, except it
uses an adverbial conjunction and
requires a semicolon and a comma.
complete sentence + semicolon + an adverbial
conjunction + a comma + complete sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:

20. I love traveling; therefore, I scheduled another
trip!
Example Compound Sentence
with an Adverbial Conjunction
They lost the game; however they are still in the
tournament.
She forgot her homework; consequently, she received a
zero.
There was a debate; nevertheless, a decisions was
made.

21. On your own piece of paper, practice writing the following sentences.
1. A compound sentence with the adverbial conjunction
“therefore”
complete sentence + semicolon + an adverbial
conjunction + a comma + complete sentence.
Use this formula to help build your own sentence:
Compound Sentence with
an Adverbial Conjunction practice
2. A compound sentence with the adverbial conjunction
“however”

22. Understanding and utilizing
these sentence structures
empowers you to write more
clearly, effectively, and
engagingly.