Grammar Lesson - Sentence Structure

Here are some basic notes on sentence structure:

Word is a symbol (something one is taught)
Phrase is a group of words
Clause is a subject, a verb, and a thought

There are two phrases - the prepositional and the participial phrase.
There are two clauses in the English language - independent and dependent clause.
- All simple sentences are built from two clauses.
- Both clauses have a subject, a verb, and a thought.
Subject is what the clause is about.
Verb is an action word or it describes a state of being.
Thought makes a point
- independent: complete thought = simple sentence
- dependent: incomplete though = fragment
The thought is complete when one gets to the point.
* Independent stands alone while the dependent cannot stand alone and is always paired with an independent clause.
Ex) Because she was mad (dependent clause), Julian rejected her (independent clause).
The sentence used in the sentence above is known as a complex sentence.

Ex) Independent: I love you.  I is the subject, love is the verb, and the simple sentence gets to the point and creates a thought.
Ex) Dependent: Because she was mad.  There is no complete thought, and it is just a fragment.

All independent clauses must start with a capitalized letter and end with end punctuation (question mark, exclamation point, period)