Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

Sentence structure describes how words, phrases, and clauses are arranged to express a complete thought. Every grammatically complete sentence must contain a subject (what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what is said about the subject, including the finite verb). NABTEB English Language tests this in three places: the multiple-choice objective paper (Section A), the essay/composition paper (Section B), and the cloze/grammar sections.

Four structural types matter:

1. Simple – one independent clause: The boy reads.
2. Compound – two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (the FANBOYS set: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon.
3. Complex – one independent clause plus one or more dependent (subordinate) clauses introduced by subordinators such as because, although, when, if, that.
4. Compound-complex – at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

High-yield pointers: watch for fragments (missing subject or finite verb) and run-ons/comma splices (two independent clauses fused without correct punctuation). Match the verb to the true subject, even when a long phrase sits between them.

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Core Components of a Sentence

Every English sentence is built from the same blueprint: a subject (typically a noun phrase) plus a predicate (a verb phrase that says something about the subject). A phrase is a group of words without a subject–finite verb relation (on the table, reading quickly). A clause contains a subject and a finite verb. An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause cannot, because it begins with a subordinator (when, because, although, if, that) or a relative pronoun (who, which, that).

The Four Sentence Types

Type	Structure	Example
Simple	1 independent clause	The cat sleeps.
Compound	2+ independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or ;	The cat sleeps, but the dog plays.
Complex	1 independent + 1+ dependent clause	When the cat sleeps, the dog plays.
Compound-complex	2+ independent + 1+ dependent	When the cat sleeps, the dog plays, and the birds sing.

The seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) are the only words that can join two independent clauses with just a comma. Anything else – including however, therefore, because – requires a semicolon, a period, or a restructuring.

Phrase Structure Rules

A noun phrase (NP) follows the pattern: determiner + (adjectives) + head noun, e.g. the tall boy. A verb phrase (VP) stacks auxiliaries (has been) before the main verb. A prepositional phrase (PP) = preposition + NP (on the tall boy’s desk). Recognising these blocks helps NABTEB candidates fix agreement errors when a long PP separates the head noun from its verb.

Common NABTEB Question Patterns

• Identification MCQs: “Which of the following is a complex sentence?” – count the independent clauses.
• Error recognition: spotting a fragment or a comma splice in a given passage.
• Sentence transformation: rewriting a simple sentence into a complex one by embedding a subordinate clause, or joining two sentences with an appropriate conjunction.
• Essay marking: examiners deduct marks for fragments, run-ons, faulty agreement, and lack of parallelism.

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Edge Cases and Subtle Traps

Subject-verb agreement across intervening phrases. In The box of chocolates is on the shelf, the head noun box is singular, so the verb is singular – not chocolates. The prepositional phrase of chocolates is a post-modifier, not the subject. This same logic applies to collective nouns (the team has, not have, in British/NABTEB usage) and to subjects joined by either…or (verb agrees with the nearest subject).

Relative clauses and which vs that. A defining (restrictive) relative clause identifies which noun is meant and uses no comma + that (or who/which): The book that I lost was new. A non-defining relative clause adds extra information about an already-identified noun and is set off by commas with which (or who): The book, which I lost yesterday, was new. Writing The book, that I lost… is a frequent NABTEB error.

Parallelism in lists and comparisons. When items are joined by and, or, or paired correlatives (both…and, either…or, not only…but also), every item must share the same grammatical form. She likes reading, to swim, and jogging mixes gerunds and infinitives; correct it to reading, swimming, and jogging or to read, to swim, and to jog.

Sentence purpose vs structure. Declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences describe function; simple/compound/complex/compound-complex describe structure. NABTEB occasionally asks candidates to classify a sentence by both – keep the two systems separate in your mind.

Worked Micro-Example

Original fragment: Because the rain was heavy. Fix by attaching it: Because the rain was heavy, the match was postponed (now a complex sentence with the dependent clause acting as an adverbial). Original comma splice: He passed the exam, he celebrated with friends. Fix by inserting a coordinating conjunction with a comma: He passed the exam*, and** he celebrated with friends.* – or replace the comma with a semicolon.

Exam Strategy

Sentence Structure contributes roughly 4% to the NABTEB English objective paper, but its marks compound in the essay and comprehension sections. In objective items, read the stem twice and count independent clauses before choosing. In essay writing, vary your structures deliberately: open with a simple declarative for impact, then deploy complex and compound-complex sentences to develop reasoning.

Practice Prompts

1. Convert the following three simple sentences into one complex sentence using although: The student was tired. She continued to study. She passed the examination.
2. Identify and correct the error in: My friend, that lives in Lagos, are coming for the wedding.

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