SYNTAX Sentence Structure The sequence and connection of the words, phrases, and clauses that constitute sentences.

Syntax Terms Subject Predicate Simple Subject Simple Predicate Independent Clause Dependent (Sub) Clause Phrase Fragment Appositive Simple Sentence Compound Sentence Complex Sentence Coordinating Conjunction Subordinating Conjunction

Contains a subject and a predicate A Sentence Contains a subject and a predicate Can stand alone as a grammatical unit Also called an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE The boy drove to the store.

Tells who or what the sentence is about Subject Tells who or what the sentence is about Consists of the simple subject and all of its modifiers. The boy drove to the store.

The part of the sentence performed by or describes the subject. Predicate The part of the sentence performed by or describes the subject. Consists of the verb and all of its modifiers, objects, and complements. The boy drove to the store.

A noun or pronoun completing or receiving the action. Simple Subject A noun or pronoun completing or receiving the action. The boy drove to the store.

Only the verb completed by the simple subject Simple Predicate Only the verb completed by the simple subject The boy drove to the store.

Another word for COMPLETE SENTENCE Consists of a SUBJECT and PREDICATE Independent Clause Another word for COMPLETE SENTENCE Consists of a SUBJECT and PREDICATE Contains a complete thought The boy drove to the store.

Dependent (Subordinate) Clause A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone. It does not make sense on its own. Whenever he drove the car

Phrase A group of words that lacks a subject, a predicate or both. Screaming like a banshee – missing a subject The tallest man – missing a predicate After midnight – missing both

Fragment A sentence that lacks a subject, a predicate or both and is punctuated at its end. Screaming like a banshee. – missing a subject The tallest man. – missing a predicate After midnight. – missing both

Appositive A noun or noun phrase that describes a nearby noun or pronoun. Set off by commas. Mark, the smartest kid in the class, attended Harvard after high school. The smartest kid in the class, Mark, attended Harvard after high school. The only student to attend Harvard was Mark, the smartest kid in the class.

Simple Sentence Consists of ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE Can have phrases The boy drove to the store. The woman walked along the beach. Over the rainbow and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go.

Coordinating Conjunction Coordinating conjunctions join single words groups of words always join similar elements subject+subject verb phrase+verb phrase sentence+sentence. When a coordinating conjunction is used to join elements, the element becomes a compound element. FANBOYS – For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Subordinating Conjunction The largest class of conjunctions Connect subordinate clauses to a main clause. These conjunctions are adverbs used as conjunctions. After, how, till, although, if, unless, as, inasmuch,  until, as if, in order, when, as long as, lest, whenever, as much as, now that, where, as soon as, wherever, as though, since, while, because, so that, before, than, even if, that, even though, though

Correlative Conjunction Correlative conjunctions also connect sentence elements of the same kind (like Coordinating Conjunctions) Unlike coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs. both...and not only...but also either...or neither...nor whether...or

Compound Sentence Contains MORE THAN ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE Contains NO DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSES May be linked together with A SEMI-COLON ; A FANBOYS Coordinating Conjunction FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO The boy drove to the store, and his brother stayed at home. The woman walked along the beach, but Lilly drove her dune buggy. She always completes her homework, so she always gets the highest grades in class.

Complex Sentence Contains an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and one or more DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSES Can occur in the following order: IND CLAUSE then DEP CLAUSE Or DEP CLAUSE then IND CLAUSE Joined together by either a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION, SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION or CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTION

Complex Sentence Continued Dependent (Sub) Clause first = USE COMMA Independent Clause first = NO COMMA After the boy drove to the store, he watched the football game. The boy watched the football game after he drove to the store. Whenever the woman walked along beach, her dog would bark uncontrollably. Her dog would bark uncontrollably whenever the woman walked along the beach.