Sentence Clauses

https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/sentence-clauses.html

As you can see from the IELTS writing band descriptors, you need to be able to write complex
sentences in order to score higher for your grammatical range - and write them correctly so you
don't get marked down on your accuracy!

The building blocks of sentences are 'clauses' though, so the first step is understanding
these.
For example, a band 4 makes only "rare use of subordinate clauses" according to the public band descriptors.

This implies you must be making good use of subordinating clauses to get a higher score, so you
need to know first what sentence clauses are.

What is a clause in a sentence?

A clause is a group of words with a (s) subject and a (v) verb.
For example:
(s) Computers (v) are important.
= 1 sentence with 1 clause.
We can have two clauses though i.e. two groups of words with a subject and a verb:
Computers are important, but they are dangerous too.
= 1 sentence with 2 clauses.
How about three sentence clauses?
Computers are important, but they can be dangerous too, so we must be careful.
= 1 sentence with 3 clauses.
Now let's add a fourth!

Computers are important, but they can be dangerous too, so we must

be careful when we use them.
= 1 sentence with 4 clauses.
You'll have noticed then that a sentence is not the same thing as a clause.
A sentence is the group of words that comes between two full-stops and it must be a complete
thought that makes sense.
So sentence clauses are what build a sentence, and one sentence can have a number of clauses.

What if there is no subject and verb?

It's important to know the difference between phrases and clauses.
If there is no subject or verb in part of the sentence, then this may be a phrase.
For example:
(p) In many countries around the world, flooding is becoming more common.
A phrase is a group of words without a subject and verb (a phrase on its own obviously cannot be a
sentence because every sentence has a subject and a verb!).
You should now know the difference between a sentence, a clause and a phrase. Time to practice!

Sentence Structure
https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/sentence-structure.html

This page about sentence structure will focus on the differences between simple sentences, compound
sentences, complex sentences and compound-complex sentences.
You must know how to correctly write these sentence types for IELTS as the examiner will be
looking for them when they grade you for your 'grammatical range'.
Clauses are the building blocks of sentences.
So, before you go any further, make sure you understand what clauses are by looking at the previous lesson.

Sentence Types
There are four types of sentence:

1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Complex
4. Compound-Complex

1. Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is one clause with a subject and verb.
Computers are important in the modern world.
Formula = SV
However, it can have more than one subject and verb:
2 subjects:
Computers and other technological devices are important in the modern world.
Formula = SSV
2 Verbs:
I  search  for information and  play games on my computer.
Formula = SVV
2 subject and 2 verbs:
My brother  and I search for information and play games on our computers.
Formula = SSVV

2. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence consists of 2 or 3 clauses. It is when simple sentences are joined together.
In this sentence structure, the clauses are joined with the following coordinating conjunctions:
F = for
A = and
N  = nor
B = but
O  = or
Y  = yet
S = so
The word 'fanboys' is an easy way to remember the different conjuntions that make up compound
sentences. Obviously the most common are 'and', 'but', 'or' and 'so'.
Here are some examples of compound sentence structure:
Computers are important, but they can be dangerous too.
Formula = SV but SV
Computers are important, but they can be dangerous too, so we must be careful.
Formula = SV but SV so SV.
Avoid writing too many clauses as the sentence may get difficult to follow, and you cannot use
each one more than once in a sentence to join clauses.
This is wrong:
 Computers are used widely in most countries now, and they are a sign of progress, and we must
ensure everyone has access to them.
Incorrect formula = SV and SV and SV.  X
Two possible corrected versions:
Computers are used widely in most countries now, and they are a sign of progress. We must ensure
everyone has access to them.
Formula = SV and SV. SV.
Computers are used widely in most countries now, and they are a sign of progress, so we must ensure
everyone has access to them.
Formula = SV and SV so SV.
Using semicolons
There is an instance when you can have a compound sentence structure without a coordinating
conjunction, and this is when you join two clauses with a semicolon. It is used when two ideas are
related.
For example:
Computers are used widely in most countries; they are a sign of progress.

3. Complex Sentences
Complex sentences are more complicated (which is maybe why they are called 'complex'!).
This type of sentence structure is important for IELTS because to get awarded a band 6 or higher
for your 'grammatical range and accuracy', you need to demonstrate that you are able to use them.
The more varied and the more accurate your complex sentences are, the higher the band score for
this.
There are different types of complex sentences and these will be looked at in more detail later, so
here you are just provided with the basics.
Complex sentences are two (or more) clauses joined together, but they are not joined by 'fanboys'
(coordinating conjunctions). They are joined by subordinating conjunctions.
These are subordinating conjunctions:
after even if unless
although even though until
as if when
as if in order to whenever
as long as in case whereas
as much as once where
as soon as since wherever
as though so that while
because that
before though

 
For example:
People take natural health supplements even though they may not have been tested.
Our children may not be properly educated if we don't spend more on schools.
I went to bed as soon as he left because I was tired.
These are all adverbial clauses. In these types of complex sentence, the second clause can be used
to start the sentence.
In this case, a comma is needed in the middle.
Even though they may not have been tested, people take natural health supplements.
If  we don't spend more on schools, our children may not be properly educated.
As soon as he left, I went to bed because I was tired.
Noun clauses and relative clauses are also a type of complex sentence structure, but these will be
looked at later.

4. Compound-Complex Sentences
Compound-complex sentences are the same as complex sentences but they also have a simple (or
compound) sentence before or after the 'complex' part.
For example:
I ate a lot  when  I got home, but  I was still hungry.
The part that is underlined is the complex sentence. As you can see, it also has a simple sentences
connected to it. It can also have a full compound sentence attached to it:
I ate a lot  when  I got home, but  I was still hungry, so I went shopping to buy some more food.
These are compound-complex sentences.