Sentence Structures

Types of Sentence Structures and Conjunctions

Types of Sentence Structures

Type	Structure	Example
Simple	Independent clause	I like coffee.
Compound	Independent clause + coordinating conjunction + Independent clause	I like coffee and Mary likes tea.
Complex	Independent clause + dependent clause	We missed our plane because we were late.
Compound-Complex	Independent clause + dependent clause + coordinating conjunction + Independent clause	John didn’t come because he was ill so Mary was not happy.

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Guide to Conjunctions

A) Coordinating Conjunctions:

Coordinating conjunctions serve to join elements of equal rank, including words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Cumulative or Copulative Conjunctions:

And
Both…. And…
As well as
No less than
Not only …..but also

Alternative or Disjunctive Conjunctions:

Or
Either…. Or
Neither … nor
Otherwise/else

Adversative Conjunctions:

But
Still/yet
Nevertheless
Whereas/while
Only

Illative Conjunctions:

For
Therefore
So/consequently

B) Subordinating Conjunctions:

Subordinating conjunctions are employed to connect a subordinate clause to a principal clause.

Conjunctions of Time:

Before
After
Since
Till/until
As soon as
While
So long as
When
As
Whenever

Conjunctions of Cause/Reason:

Because
Since
As

Conjunctions of Result or Consequence:

That

Conjunctions of Purpose:

That
So that
Lest
In order that

Conjunctions of Condition:

If
As if
Unless
Provided/provided that

Conjunctions of Concession or Contrast:

Although
Though
However

Conjunctions of Comparison:

As
Than

Conjunctions of Extent or Manner:

As
According to

Note: “Til,” “since,” “for,” “after,” “but,” and “before” are used as both prepositions or conjunctions.