1. Sentence Structure

2. Word order
 Most English sentences (clauses) conform
to the SVO word order. This means that
the Subject comes before the Verb, which
comes before the Object.
Examples:
 I (S) bought (V) a new computer (O).
 She (S) doesn't like (V) dogs (O).
 Why did you (S) do (V) that (O)?

3.  Arrange the words to make SVO sentences.
 like / I / you →
 French / I / speak →
 hates / pigeons / he →
 they / song / a / sing →
 sell / flowers / we →
 you / see / me / can →
 buy / milk / he / wants to →
 feed / you / my / cat / can →
 sister / has / my / a dog →
 must / the book / read / you →

4.  A direct object will follow verb.
Direct objects can be
nouns, pronouns, phrases,
or clauses.
 SUBJECT + VERB + what? or who? = DIRECT
OBJECT
Zippy, Maurice = subjects; played = verb.
Zippy and Maurice played what?
Soccer = direct object.

5.  An indirect object precedes the direct object
and tells to whom or for whom the action of
the verb is done and who is receiving the direct
object. There must be a direct object to have an
indirect object. Indirect objects are usually found
with verbs of giving or communicating like give,
bring, tell, show, take, or offer. An indirect
object is always a noun or pronoun which is not
part of a prepositional phrase.

6.  1. If the indirect object comes first in a
sentence, there is no preposition.
They gave Harold a new car.
Mrs. Jones offered the girls a cake.
My grandma always wishes me a good
luck.
 2. If it comes second, a preposition must
be used.
They gave a new car to Harold.
Mrs Jones offered a cake to the girls.
My grandma always wishes a good luck to
me.

7.  3. If the direct object is a pronoun (it, this ... ),
it comes first and we must use a preposition.
Compare the difference in the following
examples.
I bought it for my sister.
Can you send it to him?
I'll get it for you as soon as I can.
(Not: I bought my sister it. Can you send him it?
I'll get you it as soon as I can.)

8. Rewrite the complete sentences correctly.
 He wrote to Dan a letter.
 They gave a lot of presents Simon.
 This picture is so nice. - Can you show to
me?
 I have brought for your sister this book.
 Please, will you pass me it?
 I'm looking forward to your reply. Write me
soon.
 Grandma, could you read me?
 Don't smoke anymore. Will you promise to
me?

9.  He wrote to Dan a letter. Right: He wrote Dan a letter. / He
wrote a letter to Dan.
 They gave a lot of presents Simon. Right: They gave Simon a
lot of presents. / They gave a lot of presents to Simon.
 This picture is so nice. - Can you show to me? ?Right: Can you
show me / Can you show it to me
 I have brought for your sister this book. Right: I have brought
this book for your sister.
 Please, will you pass me it? ?Right: Please, will you pass it
to me
 I'm looking forward to your reply. Write me soon. Right: Write
to me soon.
 Grandma, could you read me? ?Right: Grandma, could you
read to me
 Don't smoke anymore. Will you promise to me? ?Right: Will
you promise me / Will you promise it to me

10. How do you vary sentence structure?
You will want to use a variety of
sentence structures in your writing.
There are three types of sentences we
will study in this lesson:
- Simple Sentence
- Compound Sentence
- Complex Sentence

11. The Simple Sentence
A simple sentence has one independent
clause (one subject and a verb):
I live in San Francisco.
Subject
Verb

12. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two
independent clauses that are joined
together.
She works in the city, but she lives in the suburbs.
Independent Independent
Clause Clause

13. Compound Sentence
You can make a compound sentence
by joining two logically related
independent clauses by using…
- a semicolon
- a coordinating conjunction
- a transition

14. Using a Semicolon
Independent Clause ; Independent Clause
I love living in the city ; there are so many things to do.
Independent Independent
Clause Clause

15. Using a Coordinating Conjunction
Independent Clause ,coordinating conjunction Independent Clause
He couldn’t watch the show , so he decided to
tape it.
Independent Independent
Clause Clause

16. Coordinating Conjunctions
Logical Relationship Coordinating
Conjunction
Addition And
Contrast But, yet
Choice Or, nor
Cause For
Result So

17. FANBOYS
Another way to remember these is…
 For  F
 And  A
 Nor  N
 But  B
 Or  O
 Yet  Y
 So  S

18. CAUTION!
Do NOT use a comma every time you use
the words and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet.
Use a comma only when the coordinating
conjunction joins two independent clauses.
Simple Sentence
The necklace was beautiful but expensive.
Independent No comma- not an
Clause independent clause

19. Using a Transition
Independent Clause ; transition , Independent Clause
I love San Francisco ; however, I hate the traffic.
Independent Independent
Clause Clause
Click here to see lists of
transitions.

20. Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains at least one
independent clause and one dependent
clause.
John cannot set up his typewriter
Independent Clause
because the wall has no outlet.
Subordinating Dependent Clause
Conjunction

21. Example- Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains at least one
independent clause and one dependent
clause.
She will go to school in the city
Independent Clause
until she finds a job.
Subordinating Dependent Clause
Conjunction

22. Complex Sentences
Use a comma after a dependent clause if it
begins the sentence.
When I first moved to the city,
Subordinating Use a comma if
Conjunction the dependent
clause is the first
part of the
sentence.
I was afraid to drive the steep and narrow streets.
Independent
Clause

23. Relationship Transition
Addition Moreover
Furthermore
In addition
besides
Contrast However On the contrary
In contrast On the other hand
Result or Effect Consequently Accordingly
Thus Hence
Therefore As a result
Reinforcement/Emphasis Indeed
In fact

24. Relationship Transition
Exemplification For example
For instance
In particular
Time Meanwhile (at the same time)
Subsequently (after)
Thereafter (after)
Reinforcement/Emphasis Indeed
In fact
Exemplification For example
For instance
In particular

25. Two Paragraphs
Read the paragraphs below. Choose the
paragraph that is more effective.
I love living in the city. I have a wonderful view of the
entire city. I have an apartment. I can see the Golden
Gate Bridge. I can see many cargo ships pass under the
bridge each day. I like the restaurants in San Francisco. I
can find wonderful food from just about every country. I
don’t like the traffic in the city.

26.  I love living in the city of San Francisco. I have
a wonderful view of the entire city from my
apartment window. In addition, I can see the
Golden Gate Bridge under which many cargo
ships pass each day. I also like San Francisco
because I can find wonderful restaurants with
food from just about every country; however, I
don’t like the traffic in the city.