The ACT English section assesses your ability to use correct grammar and sentence structures. Having a solid understanding of different sentence structures is essential to achieving a high score on this section. In this study guide, you will learn about four main types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to practice writing sentences in each structure.

Simple Sentences:

A simple sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence.

Example: Sarah walked to the store.

Practice: Write five simple sentences about a topic of your choice.

Compound Sentences:

A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so). Each independent clause expresses a complete thought.

Example: Sarah walked to the store, but she forgot her wallet.

Practice: Write five compound sentences using coordinating conjunctions.

Complex Sentences:

A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone as a sentence. It depends on the independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Example: Because Sarah forgot her wallet, she had to walk back home.

Practice: Write five complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions (such as because, although, while, since, etc.) to join the independent and dependent clauses.

Compound-Complex Sentences:

A compound-complex sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Example: Sarah walked to the store, but she forgot her wallet, so she had to walk back home.

Practice: Write five compound-complex sentences using a combination of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

Conclusion:

By understanding and practicing different sentence structures, you will be able to write more complex and sophisticated sentences, which can help you achieve a higher score on the ACT English section. Remember to always read the question carefully and choose the sentence structure that best fits the context of the passage. Good luck!