Home > Subjects > English > English level 1 > 1.5 Formal writing > Subject content > Sentence structure
- Subject: English
- AS: 90053
- Level: 1
- Credits: 3
- Internal
1.5 Produce formal writing
Sentence structure
It is important to vary your sentence structure so your writing is not all the same. Using different types of sentences will help emphasise different words or ideas. Here are four types of sentences:
- Simple sentences have a subject, verb, and object.
For example:
Graffiti [subject] spoils [verb] buildings [object].
- Compound sentences have two simple sentences of equal importance, with the same subject. The sentences are usually linked by a conjunction ('and', 'so', 'therefore') or a semi colon (;).
For example, the following two simple sentences can be combined to form a compound sentence:
Graffiti [subject] spoils [verb] buildings [object]. Graffiti [subject] causes [verb] many problems [object].
When these sentences are combined they form a compound sentence:
Graffiti spoils buildings and [conjunction] causes many problems.
- Complex sentences consist of two simple sentences that are not of equal importance.
For example – two simple sentences:
Graffiti spoils buildings. Graffiti causes many problems.
When these sentences are combined they form a complex sentence.
For example:
Since graffiti spoils buildings it causes many problems.
[The first part of the sentence is more important than the second part of the sentence.]
- Run on sentences have at least two simple sentences about different subjects that have not been separated with any punctuation.
- Minor sentences are short and may not have a subject or a verb, yet they still make sense. They can be effective when used correctly.
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