Structural Elements Version 1.0 1 of 8
Writing Module
Structural Elements of a Sentence
A sentence needs:
a subject
a verb
an expression of a
complete thought
This module and the module on sentence clarity will provide you
with refresher information about the key rules regarding sentence
construction. These are essential to apply when writing papers.
The module about structural elements of a sentence is divided into
three sections:
1. Sentence fragments
2. Main clauses that are not connected properly
3. Parallel construction
Sentence Fragments
A sentence needs a subject and a verb and must express a complete
thought.
Which of these examples are sentence fragments?
Expensive marketing campaigns, generally out of reach
for most small businesses.
Without question, responsibility for quality control is in
the hands of all employees.
You can easily identify that the first example, “Expensive
marketing campaigns, generally out of reach for most small
businesses,” is a sentence fragment because it does not have a
verb.
The second example is a complete sentence because it has a
subject, responsibility, and a verb, is.
However, there are times when it’s more challenging to identify a
sentence fragment. We are going to address three cases.
Structural Elements Version 1.0 2 of 8
Sentence or not?
What is the
subject?
What is the verb?
Does it express a
complete thought?
Long Fragment
The first type of error that is difficult to identify is a long fragment.
When the company first started, even when the company was
struggling to survive, James Martin, undeniably the largest
financial backer, as well as its most public advocate.
This example has a subject, James Martin, but no verb for the
subject.
If you aren’t sure whether or not a sentence is complete, ask
yourself these three questions:
1. What is the subject?
2. What is the verb?
3. Does the sentence express a complete thought?
The Dependent Clause has a Subject and Verb
but does not Express a Complete Thought
A second type of fragment error that is difficult to identify occurs
when a dependent clause has a subject and verb
but does not express a complete thought. This type of sentence
fragment often starts with one of the following words:
after before unless
although even if until
as even though when
as if if whenever
if in order to whether
because since while
Let’s look at an example of this type of error:
Although she was initially pumped up about the project.
This is a sentence fragment because it does not express a
complete thought, even though it has a subject and verb.
Structural Elements Version 1.0 3 of 8
Properly combine
short sentences
together to eliminate
choppiness and
improve flow in your
writing.
When this type of error occurs, there are two ways to fix it. The
first way to fix this error is to drop the first word. For this
example, the corrected sentence would be:
She was initially pumped up about the project.
This sentence now has a subject and verb, and a complete
thought is expressed.
The second way to fix this error is to combine the fragment with
a main clause to form a complete thought. For this example, the
corrected sentence would be:
Although she was initially pumped up about the project,
Gina quickly discovered the project was going to be a big
headache.
Caution: When proofreading your papers, confirm that all of your
sentences have a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Two Main Clauses are Connected Improperly
A second type of fragment error that is difficult to identify occurs
when two main clauses are connected improperly.
A main clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. However,
two or more main clauses are sometimes combined together so that
the writing does not sound choppy.
For example, two main clauses that are complete sentences are:
Keith ran out of luck.
Julie continued to win.
These two sentences could remain separate, but reading them could
sound choppy. Combining these two short sentences together would
eliminate this problem. Be aware, however, of the three types of
errors that can occur when connecting two sentences.
1. Failure to use punctuation between the main clauses.
2. Placing a comma between two main clauses but failure to
add a connecting word.
3. Using a confusing or inappropriate connecting word.
Structural Elements Version 1.0 4 of 8
Connector words used
when combining two
main clauses include:
and, or, but, yet, for,
and so.
Methods to connect
two main clauses:
1. Add a comma after
the first main
clause.
2. Add a connector
word that makes
sense.
3. Add the second
main clause.
The first type of error occurs when no punctuation is used between
the main clauses.
Using the previous two sentences, an example would be:
Keith ran out of luck Julie continued to win.
This is incorrect.
A second error occurs when a comma is placed between the two
main clauses but no connecting word (e.g., and, or, but, yet, for, so)
is added. Using the previous two sentences once again, an example
would be:
Keith ran out of luck, Julie continued to win.
This is also incorrect.
A third error occurs when a confusing or inappropriate connecting
word is used. Using the previous two sentences once again, an
example would be:
Keith ran out of luck, or Julie continued to win.
This is also incorrect. Even though a connector word was used,
the new sentence does not make sense.
There are three ways to connect two main clauses together:
1. Add a comma after the first main clause.
2. Add a connector word that makes sense.
3. Add the second main clause.
Using the previous two sentences, examples of connecting them
correctly are:
Keith ran out of luck, but Julie continued to win.
Keith ran out of luck, while Julie continued to win.
Keith ran out of luck, yet Julie continued to win.
All of the connector words are appropriate, because each
sentence makes sense.
Structural Elements Version 1.0 5 of 8
Do not mix forms in a
list.
How to identify word
patterns:
Place items in a
column.
Say the list out
loud.
When connecting two main clauses into one sentence: add a comma
after the first clause, use an appropriate connector word so the new
sentence makes sense, then add the second main clause.
Parallel Construction
There are three areas of importance that involve parallel
construction.
1. Use a list of items
2. Use correlatives in a sentence
3. Make comparisons
Use a List of Items
Each item on the list must be grammatically equal. In other words,
you need to use the same pattern of word(s) for each item. Do not
mix forms within the list.
The production manager was asked to write his report
quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
In this example, the list consists of quickly, accurately, and
thoroughly. All of the items use the same word pattern (i.e., they
are all adverbs).
Now let’s look at another example:
The doctor told the patient that he should get a lot of
sleep, that he should not eat too much, and do some
stretching exercises before beginning his five-mile run.
This list includes items that consist of more than one word, so it is a
little more difficult to determine whether the items all have the
same word pattern. Some hints to make the pattern easier to see are:
Place the items in a column.
Say the list out loud, and listen to the rhythm or repetition
of the sounds.
In this example, listen to the pattern of the items in the list:
that he should get a lot of sleep
that he should not eat too much
do some stretching exercises
Structural Elements Version 1.0 6 of 8
The elements following
correlative terms must
use the same word
pattern.
The last item does not fit the pattern of the other two items. You
can correct the problem in two ways.
The first way to correct the problem is by adjusting the last item to
match the pattern of the other two items. The sentence would read:
The doctor told the patient that he should get a lot of sleep,
that he should not eat too much, and that he should do some
stretching exercises before beginning his five-mile run.
This sentence has parallel construction but is very wordy with all
the occurrences of “that he should” in the sentence.
A second approach to correct the sentence is by taking out the
repeating phrase and placing it at the beginning of the list. The
sentence would read:
The doctor told the patient that he should get a lot of sleep,
eat an appropriate amount of food, and do some stretching
exercises before beginning his five-mile run.
The first rule to remember about parallel construction is: The items
in a list should all have the same word pattern.
Use of Correlatives in a Sentence
The second area of importance with parallel construction occurs
when correlatives are used in a sentence.
Common correlatives are:
either…or…
neither…nor…
both…and…
not only…but also…
When using correlatives, the element immediately following the
first correlative term must have the same word pattern as the
element following the second term. For example,
Those employees wishing to participate in the event
should either contact HR by telephone or should send
e-mail to HR.
Structural Elements Version 1.0 7 of 8
Comparison words:
than
as
similar to
like
Elements being
compared must have
the same word pattern.
The sentence contains the correlative, either…or. The first
element is “contact HR by telephone.” The second element is
“should send e-mail to HR.” Examination of these two elements
reveals that they do not have the same word pattern. To correct
the problem, modify either the first or the second element to
match the other element.
Here are two examples that are both correct.
Those employees wishing to participate in the event
should either contact HR by telephone or send e-mail to
HR.
Those employees wishing to participate in the event
either should contact HR by telephone or should send email
to HR.
To second rule to remember about parallel construction is: When a
sentence contains a correlative, the elements immediately following
each correlative term must have the same word pattern.
Making Comparisons
The second area of importance with parallel construction occurs
when comparisons are made in a sentence. Normally, one of the
following words (or phrases) connects the two elements that are
being compared:
than
as
similar to
like
Each element being compared must have the same word pattern.
For example:
Organizational structure is as important as maintaining
morale of the employees.
The comparison word being used is as. The first element is
“Organizational structure.” The second element is “maintaining
morale.” These two elements do not have the same word pattern,
so one of the elements must be corrected to match the other.
Structural Elements Version 1.0 8 of 8
The key to parallel
construction is that all
elements must use
the same word
pattern.
One way to correct this sentence is:
Organizational structure is as important as the morale of
the employees.
The elements now match.
The third rule to remember about parallel construction is: When
comparing two elements in a sentence, the elements must have the
same word pattern.
The key thing to remember with parallel construction is that the
elements always must have the same word pattern.
Return to the Graduate Success Prep Program available through
the myFranklin Web site and do the exercises for this module.