1.1.3
Sentence Types
Key Terms for English Language - Sentence and Clause Types
Key Terms for English Language - Sentence and Clause Types
You need to know the following key terms for your English Language exam:
Complex sentence
Complex sentence
- A complex sentence is formed when you join a main clause and a subordinate clause with a connective.
- Some connectives include: when, if, because, although.
- E.g. While the wind blew, people stayed indoors.
Compound sentence
Compound sentence
- A compound sentence is formed when you join two main clauses with a connective.
- Some connectives include: and, but, so, or.
- E.g. The sand was rough on my skin but the sun was gleaming brilliantly off the water.
Main clause
Main clause
- A main clause is a clause that contains a subject, verb and an object. Main clauses make sense on their own.
- E.g. I like bananas.
Simple sentence
Simple sentence
- A simple sentence has one clause. It only has a verb and a subject.
- E.g. She picked up the brown box.
Subordinate clause
Subordinate clause
- A subordinate clause is one that relies on a main clause to make sense - it contains a subject and a verb, and adds extra information to the sentence. It needs to be attached to a main clause because it cannot make sense on its own.
- E.g. After she noticed it was missing… (What happened?)
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
Jump to other topics
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
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