TEAS sentence structure: simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences

Where sentence structure appears on TEAS 7

ATI's TEAS 7 content outline lists use correct sentence structures as one of three objectives in conventions of standard English, which has 12 scored questions shared with spelling and punctuation. A related objective in knowledge of language, use grammar to enhance clarity in writing, often turns on the same clause skills when a question asks which version of a sentence reads most clearly.

ATI's outline gives English 37 minutes, the shortest limit of the four sections, so there is little time to reason out a sentence from scratch. Classifying by counting clauses takes seconds once it is a habit, which is why it is worth drilling.

Independent and dependent clauses

Purdue OWL defines an independent clause as a group of words with a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought, and a dependent clause as one with a subject and verb that does not. A dependent clause usually starts with a subordinating word such as after, as, before, once, since, until, while, because or although.

Coordinating conjunctions are different. The seven of them, and, but, for, or, nor, so and yet, join clauses of equal weight, so a clause that starts with one of them can still be independent. Mixing up the two groups is the root of most wrong classifications: because makes a clause dependent, but so does not.

Counting clauses to name the four types

OWL's definitions work as a counting rule. One independent clause and no dependent clause is simple. Two or more independent clauses and no dependent clause is compound. One independent clause and at least one dependent clause is complex. Two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause is compound-complex.

Worked example: the pain eased after the nurse repositioned the patient, so she charted the change. The pain eased is independent, after the nurse repositioned the patient is dependent, and she charted the change is a second independent clause joined by so. Two independent plus one dependent makes it compound-complex.

The usual trap is length. The nurse checked the chart, called the pharmacy and updated the care plan is long, but it has one subject doing three things, so there is only one clause and the sentence is simple. Count subject and verb pairs, not commas or words.

Fragments, run-ons and comma splices

OWL calls fragments incomplete sentences, usually a dependent clause or phrase cut off from its main clause, or a group of words missing a subject or a main verb. Because the patient was allergic to penicillin. is a fragment: it starts with because and nothing completes the thought. Attach it to an independent clause to fix it.

A run-on, or fused sentence, joins two independent clauses with no punctuation or connecting word, and a comma splice joins them with only a comma. OWL gives two fixes: add a comma with one of the seven coordinating conjunctions, or use a semicolon. A period also works. To spot either error on the test, check every comma that sits between two clauses and ask whether both sides could stand as sentences; if they can and there is no conjunction, the sentence is wrong.

Sources

ATI: ATI TEAS Version 7 Content Outline. Use correct sentence structures objective in the 12-question conventions area; use grammar to enhance clarity in knowledge of language; English section time limit of 37 minutes

Purdue OWL: Sentence Types. Definitions of simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences

Purdue OWL: Independent and Dependent Clauses. Clause definitions, subordinating and coordinating conjunctions

Purdue OWL: Run-ons, Comma Splices, Fused Sentences. Definitions of run-ons and comma splices and the two fixes

Purdue OWL: Sentence Fragments. Fragments as incomplete sentences: detached dependent clauses or phrases, missing subject or verb, and fixes