Sentence Structure & Phrases - Cheat Sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for Sentence Structure & Phrases. Master the essential grammar rules and common errors tested in CSE Professional exams.
Basic Sentence Elements
Formulas
Complete Sentence = Subject + Predicate
Meaning
Subject (noun/pronoun doing action) + Predicate (verb phrase telling about subject)
Watch out
Don't confuse prepositional phrase objects with true subjects
When to use
To identify if a group of words forms a complete sentence
Important facts
- Subject can be: noun, pronoun, noun phrase, gerund, infinitive, or noun clause
- Prepositional phrases NEVER contain the subject of a sentence
- Cross out prepositional phrases to find the true subject easily
- In inverted sentences, subject comes after the verb
Key definitions
Subject
Example
Joy laughs out loud (Joy = subject)
The noun/pronoun that performs the action or is described in the sentence
Simple Subject
Example
My kind American friend visited (friend = simple subject)
The main noun/pronoun without any modifiers
Complete Subject
Example
My kind American friend visited (My kind American friend = complete subject)
The subject plus all its modifiers and descriptors
Compound Subject
Example
Joy and Mark sing (Joy and Mark = compound subject)
Two or more simple subjects joined by conjunctions
Diagrams to know
- Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentence pattern
- Complete vs Simple vs Compound subject identification
Sentence Types & Structure
Important facts
- Independent clause = can stand alone as complete sentence
- Dependent clause = cannot stand alone, needs main clause
- Use comma after dependent clause when it starts the sentence
- Coordinating conjunctions: FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
Key definitions
Simple Sentence
Example
Melissa loves to swim
One independent clause with subject and verb expressing complete thought
Compound Sentence
Example
Celine has work, but she chose to sleep
Two independent clauses joined by conjunction or semicolon
Complex Sentence
Example
Although he finished, Henry needs to work
One independent clause + at least one dependent clause
Compound-Complex Sentence
Example
Abby finished thesis, but she failed defense even if she practiced
Two+ independent clauses + at least one dependent clause
Diagrams to know
- Four sentence types classification chart
- Independent vs dependent clause identification
Common Sentence Errors
Important facts
- Fix run-ons: use period, semicolon, comma+conjunction, or subordination
- Fix fragments: add missing subject or predicate
- Place modifiers next to words they modify
- Ensure modifier has a clear target word in sentence
Key definitions
Run-on Sentence
Example
Wrong: I looked everywhere, I couldn't find my phone
Two independent clauses incorrectly joined by comma only
Sentence Fragment
Example
Wrong: Andy studied hard. Passed all tests.
Incomplete sentence missing subject or predicate
Dangling Modifier
Example
Wrong: Walking along highway, a cow passed by
Modifier with no clear word to modify in the sentence
Misplaced Modifier
Example
Wrong: Elijah cut himself while shaving badly
Modifier placed too far from the word it modifies
Diagrams to know
- Run-on sentence correction methods flowchart
- Modifier placement rules diagram
Phrases
Important facts
- Prepositional phrases never contain sentence subjects
- Cross out prep phrases to find true subject for subject-verb agreement
- Adjectival phrases start with prepositions, adjective phrases contain adjectives
- Noun phrases can function as subjects, objects, or complements
Key definitions
Prepositional Phrase
Example
in the house, for my friend, during the meeting
Preposition + object (noun/pronoun) providing additional information
Noun Phrase
Example
the newly elected board chairman
Noun + all its modifiers and determiners
Adjective Phrase
Example
extremely brown eyes, very expensive shoes
Group of words with adjective as head word modifying noun
Adverbial Phrase
Example
in an hour (time), very quickly (manner)
Group of words functioning as adverb (time, place, manner, reason)
Diagrams to know
- Types of phrases classification chart
- Phrase functions in sentences diagram
Subject-Verb Agreement with Phrases
Formulas
Subject + Prepositional Phrase + Verb = Verb agrees with Subject (not phrase object)
Meaning
Ignore words in prepositional phrases when determining verb form
Watch out
Don't let plural objects in prep phrases trick you into using plural verbs
When to use
When prepositional phrase separates subject and verb
Important facts
- Each of the samples WAS (not were) - 'each' is singular
- The percentage of responses increases (not increase) - 'percentage' is singular
- Cross out prepositional phrases to see true subject-verb relationship
- Some/any/none/all/most - agreement depends on object of preposition
Key definitions
Intervening Phrase
Example
The evaluation of the results reveals (not reveal)
Phrase that separates subject from verb, causing agreement confusion
Diagrams to know
- Subject-verb agreement decision tree with intervening phrases
Must remember
- Cross out prepositional phrases to find true subject for verb agreement
- Run-on: two independent clauses joined by comma only (WRONG)
- Fragment: incomplete sentence missing subject or predicate
- Simple sentence = 1 independent clause; Compound = 2+ independent clauses
- Complex sentence = 1 independent + 1+ dependent clause
- Place modifiers next to words they modify to avoid confusion
- Coordinating conjunctions: FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
- Each/Every + prepositional phrase takes SINGULAR verb
- Dependent clause cannot stand alone as sentence
- Subject can be: noun, pronoun, gerund, infinitive, or noun clause
Last minute tips
- If you see a comma between two complete thoughts, it's probably a run-on error
- Cross out all prepositional phrases first - they're distractors in agreement questions
- Look for sentence fragments by checking: Does this express a complete thought?
- In modifier questions, ask: What word is being described? Place modifier near that word
- Count independent clauses to classify sentence type quickly
Comparison tables
Sentence Types Comparison
| Type | Structure | Example | Punctuation Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | 1 independent clause | Joy sings | Period at end |
| Compound | 2+ independent clauses | Joy sings, but Mark dances | Comma + conjunction OR semicolon |
| Complex | 1 independent + 1+ dependent | Although tired, Joy sings | Comma after initial dependent clause |
| Compound-Complex | 2+ independent + 1+ dependent | Joy sings while tired, but Mark rests | Multiple punctuation rules apply |
Common Phrase Types
| Phrase Type | Structure | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepositional | Preposition + object | Modifies nouns/verbs | in the morning |
| Noun | Noun + modifiers | Acts as noun | the red car |
| Adjective | Adjective + modifiers | Modifies nouns | very beautiful |
| Adverbial | Functions as adverb | Modifies verbs/adjectives | quite slowly |
Diagrams
Sentence Structure & Phrases Overview
Complete overview of sentence structure concepts and phrase types covered in CSE exams
Sentence Error Correction Process
Step-by-step process for identifying and correcting common sentence structure errors in CSE exams
Subject-Verb Agreement with Phrases
Decision tree for determining correct subject-verb agreement when phrases intervene between subject and verb