Sentence Structure
A) Introduction
This page about sentence structure will focus on the differences between simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences and compound-complex sentences.
Use the best sentence you can to communicate your ideas in the exam.
A) Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is one clause with a subject and verb.
However, it can have more than one subject and more than one verb:
2 subjects:
Migration and the number of road users rose during the period studied.
Formula = SSV
2 Verbs:
2 subject and 2 verbs:
Migration and the number of road users rose and then fell during the period studied.
Formula = SSVV
You’ll have noticed that a sentence is not the same thing as a clause.
A sentence is a group of words that comes between two full-stops and it must be a complete thought that makes sense.
However do not give any explanation in your task 1 writing.
D) Common misuse of words in task 1 writing
Affect/Effect
A compound sentence consists of 2 or 3 clauses. This is when simple sentences are joined together.
In this sentence structure, the clauses are joined with the following coordinating conjunctions:
Here are some examples of compound sentence structure:
2 subjects:
This is wrong:
2 subject and 2 verbs:
A possible corrected version:
Migration grew during the period studied, and then started to fall. In 2005 it began to rise again and quickly gathered pace.
Formula = SV and SV. SV.
