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Sentence Superhero Training Part 2
Let’s look at the four structures of sentences. Every sentence will fall into one of these
four sentence structures.
First, we have the simple sentence. The simple sentence is only one independent clause. The
simple sentence can have as many phrases as it wants, but only one independent clause.
Of course, it can have multiple subjects or verbs also.
Second, we have the compound sentence. The compound sentence is at least two independent
clauses connected by one coordinate conjunction. Can a compound sentence have four independent
clauses and one coordinate conjunction? Yes, it can. By the way, we put a comma in front
of the coordinate conjunction. There is another version of the compound sentence. It is two
independent clauses combined with just a semi-colon. But, the second independent clause should
be closely related to the first, and you should not use the semi-colon method very often because
the coordinate conjunction provides an important transition.
Third, we have the complex sentence. The complex sentence is one independent clause and at
least one dependent clause. Don’t forget that dependent clauses begin with subordinate
conjunctions. Can a complex sentence have more than one independent clause? No. If it
does, it is no longer a complex sentence. Can it have more than one dependent clause?
Yes, it can.
Our fourth and last sentence structure is the complex-compound sentence. The name describes
it well. Put a compound sentence together with a complex one. A complex-compound sentence
has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
All right, you should all be Sentence Superheroes very soon. Oh no, someone is writing an incorrect
sentence. I have to go. Good luck becoming your own sentence superhero!