150 COMMON USAGE ERRORS
Lesson
20
Problems with
Sentence
Structure
There are three basic kinds of sentences: simple, compound, and complex. We already
encountered these sentence types in Parts One and Two. Here, we learn about the parts of
the sentences and how they work together. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to
broaden your understanding with a little practice.
Simple Sentences
In Part One (pages 3–10) you learned that a sentence must have a subject and a verb,
often called a predicate. In the following sentences, the subject has one line under it; the
verb (predicate) has two.
Maria yelled.
A section of the bridge fell during the recent storm.
These are simple sentences. Each one contains a subject and a verb. Either the subject or
the verb, or both, may be compound. Something that is compound has two or more parts.
The following sentences have compound parts:
COMPOUND SUBJECT
: Cindy and Jeffrey smiled.
COMPOUND VERB
: Cindy smiled and laughed.
COMPOUND SUBJECT
AND VERB
: Cindy and Jeffrey smiled and laughed.
EXERCISE 1.
Each numbered line consists of two sentences. Combine each pair
into one simple sentence with compound parts. The finished sentence may have either a
compound subject or a compound verb. (Be sure to make all necessary changes.)
1. Mario plays tennis. Carly also plays tennis.

ject-verb order: “he does care for spinach.”)
EXERCISE 2.
Combine each pair of sentences to form a good compound sentence.
Use and, but, or, or nor. Make slight changes in wording, if necessary.
1. You may think of Dobermans as vicious dogs. Many of them are gentle.
PROBLEMS WITH SENTENCE STRUCTURE 151
2. Tropical fish require great care. They may become sick and die.
3. Lightning struck the tree. The bark peeled off in layers.
4. Jim did not mow the lawn. He did not trim the hedges.
5. The rain poured down. The sun was shining.
Complex Sentences
We worked with complex sentences in Part Two (page 140) and saw how they can add
interest and variety to writing. Now we look more closely at what makes a complex sen-
tence. Like a compound sentence, a complex sentence has two or more clauses, but at least
one of the clauses cannot stand by itself as a sentence. Note the following example:
COMPLEX SENTENCE
: If Paula calls, give her my message.
FIRST CLAUSE
: If Paula calls, (subordinate clause)
SECOND CLAUSE
: give her my message. (independent clause)
The first clause cannot function alone as a sentence. Although it has both a subject and
a verb, it needs something to complete its thought. It is a subordinate clause. The second
clause can stand by itself. It is an independent clause with the understood subject you.
Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses can be difficult. Sometimes we make the mistake of punctuating
them as if they were complete sentences. Then we end up with a sentence fragment, which
will be covered in the next section (pages 155–164).
Subordinate clauses begin with connectives, or “joining words,” called subordinating
conjunctions. Here’s a partial list:

: The part of the movie THAT I liked best was
the ending.
EXERCISE 4.
Circle the subordinate clause in each sentence. Be careful not to circle
part of the independent clause.
1. Caroline, who has not missed a school day in two years, is a friend of Sasha’s.
2. The Statue of Liberty is the sight that has greeted millions of new immigrants.
3. Basketball, which was invented by an American, is now played around the world.
4. The violinist Itzhak Perlman is a man who has overcome serious physical disabilities.
5. One plant that everyone should avoid is poison ivy.
PROBLEMS WITH SENTENCE STRUCTURE 153
EXERCISE 5.
Identify each sentence by writing Simple, Compound, or Complex
on the line.
1. The movie was good, but I enjoyed the book more.
2. Her flight was canceled, and the trip was postponed.
3. Katherine Lee, who was chosen to represent our
school, could not attend the meeting.
4. The teachers and the students stood together.
5. The car skidded and almost struck a utility pole.
6. Lisa replaced the glass that she had broken.
7. Are you buying new clothes?
8. He used his computer to make party invitations.
9. When buses are delayed, students are usually late
for school.
10. Disneyland and Hollywood are popular places to
visit in California.
EXERCISE 6.
Combine each pair of sentences to make one complex sentence. If
you need help, look again at the list of subordinating conjunctions on page 152.

PROBLEMS WITH SENTENCE STRUCTURE 155
NO VERB
: A small puppy running across the lawn.
(The word running by itself is not a verb. It
needs a helping verb like is or was. See
Verbals as Fragments, page 161.)
COMPLETE SENTENCE
: A small puppy was running across the lawn.
NO SUBJECT
: Took the train from Boston to New Haven.
COMPLETE SENTENCE
: He took the train from Boston to New Haven.
NO VERB
,
NO SUBJECT
: From my uncle in Dallas.
COMPLETE SENTENCE
: I got a gift from my uncle in Dallas.
A common error is the use of a prepositional phrase as a complete sentence. A
preposition relates the noun or pronoun following it to some other part of the sentence
(see Lesson 14 in Part One, page 94). A phrase is a group of connected words that does
not contain a subject or a predicate.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
: Near the monitor on the desk.
COMPLETE SENTENCE
: An owner’s manual lay near the monitor on
the desk.
EXERCISE 7.
Transform each sentence fragment into a complete sentence. Add
words as needed.