Sentence Structure: Phrases, Clauses & Types

• Phrase: A group of related words that does NOT contain both a subject and a finite verb. A phrase cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it functions as a single part of speech. - Noun Phrase: "the young energetic footballer" - Prepositional Phrase: "across the wide Densu River" - Verbal Phrase: "having finished the morning chore" • Clause: A group of related words containing BOTH a subject and a finite predicate (verb). - Independent (Main) Clause: Expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. "Kwame passed his examination with distinction." - Dependent (Subordinate) Clause: Contains a subject and a verb but begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. It does NOT express a complete thought and cannot stand alone. "Because he studied diligently every evening..." (What happened? Needs a main clause to complete the sense!).

Sentences are classified structurally based on the number and type of clauses they contain: • 1. Simple Sentence: Contains ONE independent clause and NO dependent clauses. (It may have compound subjects or verbs). - "The rain fell heavily throughout the night." - "Kofi and Ama swept the compound and washed the dishes." (Compound subject & compound verb, but still one simple sentence). • 2. Compound Sentence: Contains TWO or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon. - "The bell rang, AND the pupils entered their classrooms." - "Ama wanted to travel by bus, BUT the tickets were sold out." • 3. Complex Sentence: Contains ONE independent clause and AT LEAST ONE dependent clause joined by a subordinating conjunction (because, although, since, unless, while, if) or a relative pronoun. - "[When the teacher entered the classroom], [all the pupils stood up]." - "We will not start the football match [unless the rain stops]." • 4. Compound-Complex Sentence: Contains at least TWO independent clauses and at least ONE dependent clause. - "[Although Kofi was tired], [he finished his homework], and [he helped his mother prepare dinner]."

Conjunctions are grammatical connectors: • Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS): Join words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. - For (reason), And (addition), Nor (negative addition), But (contrast), Or (alternative), Yet (concession), So (result). • Subordinating Conjunctions: Connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, establishing relationships of time, cause, condition, or concession. - Time: after, before, since, until, when, whenever, while. - Cause/Reason: because, since, as. - Condition: if, unless, provided that. - Concession/Contrast: although, even though, whereas, while. • Correlative Conjunctions: Always appear in pairs to link balanced elements: - either...or - neither...nor - not only...but also - both...and

• Sentence Fragment: An incomplete piece of a sentence presented as if it were a complete thought. Fragments lack a subject, a finite verb, or are stranded dependent clauses. - Fragment: "Because the library was closed yesterday." - Correction: "Because the library was closed yesterday, we studied under the mango tree." • Run-on Sentence (Fused Sentence): Occurs when two independent clauses are joined with no punctuation at all. - Run-on: "The teacher arrived we stood up." - Correction: "The teacher arrived, and we stood up." OR "The teacher arrived; we stood up." • Comma Splice: Occurs when two independent clauses are joined with ONLY a comma. - Comma Splice: "The rain stopped, the children ran outside to play." - Correction 1: Add a coordinating conjunction: "The rain stopped, and the children ran outside to play." - Correction 2: Use a period: "The rain stopped. The children ran outside to play." - Correction 3: Use a semicolon: "The rain stopped; the children ran outside to play."