What Is the Structure of an English Sentence and Which Parts of Speech Are Best Used?

Understanding the structure of an English sentence is one of the most crucial steps in mastering the English language. Whether you’re writing an email, telling a story, or speaking in a business meeting, knowing how to build sentences correctly helps you sound fluent, confident, and like a natural speaker.

Many English learners struggle with sentence structure because English word order and grammar rules can differ from those in their native languages. The good news is that once you understand the basic sentence structure and the eight parts of speech, you can build almost any sentence with ease.

In this blog, we’ll explore how English sentences are formed, what the main parts of speech are, and which ones are essential for clear communication. You’ll also find examples and tips to help you improve your writing and speaking right away.

1. What Is Sentence Structure?

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. It usually includes a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate / action (what the subject does or is).

The basic English sentence structure follows this pattern:

Subject + Verb + Object (SVO)

This pattern is the foundation of English grammar. For example:

• ✅ She (subject) eats (verb) an apple (object).
• ✅ They (subject) play (verb) football (object).
• ✅ The dog (subject) chased (verb) the ball (object).

No matter how complex a sentence becomes, this simple pattern remains at its core.

2. The Four Main Sentence Types in English

English sentences come in four main types based on their structure:

1. Simple Sentence

A simple sentence has one independent clause — a subject and a verb expressing a complete idea. ( Independent clauses stand by themselves.)

I love coffee.
He studies every morning.

These are clear and direct, perfect for beginners or for expressing simple thoughts.

2. Compound Sentence

A compound sentence connects two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor.

I wanted to go for a walk, but it started raining.
She cooked dinner, and he washed the dishes.

Compound sentences make writing and speech more engaging by combining related ideas.

We wrote a blog on FANBOYS, Have you read it?

3. Complex Sentence

A complex sentence includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause (a clause that cannot stand alone).

Although I was tired, I finished my homework.
When the movie ended, we went for ice cream.

Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as because, although, when, if, since, before, after, and while.

4. Compound-Complex Sentence

This structure mixes both types — at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Although it was late, we stayed up to watch a movie, and we ordered pizza.

These sentences show advanced grammar skills and are common in academic or formal writing.

3. The Building Blocks: The 8 Parts of Speech

Every word in English belongs to a specific part of speech, depending on its function in the sentence. Understanding them helps you know where and how to use words correctly.

Here are the eight main parts of speech:

1. Noun – names a person, place, thing, or idea.
2. Pronoun – replaces a noun.
3. Verb – expresses an action or a state of being.
4. Adjective – describes a noun or pronoun.
5. Adverb – describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
6. Preposition – shows the relationship between nouns and other words.
7. Conjunction – joins words, phrases, or clauses.
8. Interjection – expresses strong emotion or reaction.

Let’s look at each in more detail with examples and tips.

1. Nouns

Nouns are the backbone of sentences. They name people (teacher, Anthony), places (school, London), things (book, table), or ideas (freedom, happiness).

Example:

The teacher opened the book.

In this sentence, teacher and book are nouns.

Tip: Use specific nouns to make your writing clearer. Instead of saying “thing,” say “laptop” or “project.”

2. Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition.
Common pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, they, me, him, her, us, them.

Example:

Anthony loves English. He teaches it online.

Here, “He” replaces “Anthony,” and “it” replaces “English.”

Tip: Make sure the pronoun clearly refers to the right noun — this is called pronoun reference.

3. Verbs

Verbs show action (run, speak, write) or state (be, seem, feel).
They are the heartbeat of every sentence.

Example:

She studies every evening.
They are watching a movie.

Tip: Always make sure your verb agrees with your subject (Singular: He runs / Plural: They run).

4. Adjectives

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns, giving more detail.

Example:

The red car is fast.
She has a beautiful voice.

Tip: Adjectives usually come before the noun they describe (a tall man), but after a linking verb like be, seem, look (He is tall).

5. Adverbs

Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They often tell how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.

Example:

He speaks clearly.
She runs very fast.

Tip: Many adverbs end in -ly, but not all (e.g. very, fast, well). Avoid overusing them — choose strong verbs instead of many adverbs.

6. Prepositions

Prepositions show the relationship between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence. Common prepositions include in, on, at, under, over, by, with, from, to, about, and for.

Example:

The keys are on the table.
She walked to the park.

Tip: Prepositions are tricky because they don’t always translate directly between languages. Practice using them in short sentences to develop intuition.

7. Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.

There are three main types:

• Coordinating: and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet
• Subordinating: because, although, if, when, since, unless
• Correlative: either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also

Example:

I wanted to study, but I fell asleep.
She will travel if she saves enough money.

Tip: Mastering conjunctions helps you create longer, more complex sentences.

8. Interjections

Interjections express sudden emotions or reactions.

Example:

Wow! That’s amazing!
Oh no, I forgot my keys!

They’re often used in spoken English or informal writing.

4. How Parts of Speech Work Together

Each part of speech plays a role, but the magic happens when they combine.
Let’s look at an example and break it down:

“The excited children quickly ran to the playground.”

Even a short sentence like this contains several parts of speech working together.

5. Common Mistakes in English Sentence Structure

Even advanced learners sometimes make structural mistakes. Here are a few common ones and how to fix them:

❌ Fragmented sentences

Because he was tired.
✅ He went to bed because he was tired.

❌ Run-on sentences

I love English I study every day.
✅ I love English, and I study every day.

❌ Wrong word order

Always I eat breakfast.
✅ I always eat breakfast.

❌ Missing subjects or verbs

Is raining today.
✅ It is raining today.

Tip: Always check that each sentence has a subject and a verb, and that it makes sense as a complete thought.

6. Improving Sentence Writing Skills

Here are some easy ways to improve your sentence writing and fluency:

1. Read daily – reading exposes you to natural sentence structures.
2. Write short sentences first, then combine them with conjunctions.
3. Use grammar apps or dictionaries to check your usage.
4. Record yourself speaking to spot mistakes.
5. Practice rewriting – take a simple sentence and make it more detailed:
   • She walks. → She walks gracefully along the beach every morning.

7. Sentence Structure in Spoken English

When speaking, sentence structure can be more flexible than in writing.
Native speakers often use contractions (I’m, don’t, it’s) and shorter sentences for clarity.

Example:

I can’t go out tonight. Got too much work.

In writing, we’d say:

I can’t go out tonight because I have too much work.

Learning both formal and informal structures helps you sound natural in every situation — from casual conversations to job interviews.

8. The Best Parts of Speech to Focus On

If you’re learning English as a second language, focus first on:

• Nouns and Verbs → They are the foundation.
• Adjectives and Adverbs → They add detail and colour.
• Prepositions → They show connections.

Without nouns and verbs, a sentence cannot exist. Once you’re confident with those, start expanding your vocabulary and practising how the other parts interact.

9. How to Practise Sentence Building

Try these exercises to strengthen your understanding:

Exercise 1: Identify Parts of Speech

Underline each part in a sentence.

The clever student quickly answered the question.

• The – article
• clever – adjective
• student – noun
• quickly – adverb
• answered – verb
• the question – noun phrase (object)

Exercise 2: Rebuild Sentences

Change word order to make new meanings.

He opened the door quietly.
→ Quietly, he opened the door. (same meaning, different emphasis)

Exercise 3: Expand a Simple Sentence

Start with a short one:

The dog barked.
Now add:
The angry dog barked loudly at the stranger near the gate.

This process helps you see how parts of speech expand your expression.

10. Why Sentence Structure Matters in Real Communication

Good sentence structure is not just grammar — it’s communication clarity.
When your sentences are well-structured:

• Your meaning is clear
• Your listener stays engaged
• You avoid misunderstandings

In professional settings, good grammar shows competence and confidence.
In academic writing, it helps you earn better grades.
And in daily conversation, it helps you connect naturally.

Final Thoughts

Understanding English sentence structure is like building with Lego bricks — once you know how the pieces fit, you can build anything.
Start with the Subject + Verb + Object pattern, learn how the parts of speech interact, and practise every day.

Don’t worry if it feels complicated at first. With regular practice, your sentences will become more accurate, expressive, and natural.

Ready to Take Your English to the Next Level?

At EFL Academy Hub, we help learners like you master grammar, sentence structure, and confident communication through interactive online lessons.

🎓 Sign up for free today and get access to:

• Grammar and writing practice lessons
• Real-life conversation models
• Teacher feedback and video tutorials

👉 Join thousands of English learners improving their skills daily at www.eflacademyhub.com

Start your journey now — learn English the smart way!