Grammar: Sentence Level

Sentence-level grammar — syntax — examines how words are combined into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Understanding syntax is essential for analysing how texts create meaning through the arrangement and structure of language. This lesson covers the key syntactic concepts you need for AQA A-Level English Language.

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Sentence Types

Sentences are classified by their structural complexity:

Sentence Type	Structure	Example
Simple	One main (independent) clause	"The cat sat on the mat."
Compound	Two or more main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so)	"The cat sat on the mat and the dog lay by the fire."
Complex	One main clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses	"Although it was raining, the cat sat on the mat."
Compound-complex	Two or more main clauses and at least one subordinate clause	"The cat sat on the mat and the dog lay by the fire, although it was cold outside."