To write effectively, it is useful to understand the hidden patterns of language structure. The underlying forms make the story both grammatically correct and engaging. An avid reader can pick up these shapes and rhythms. That is partly why we encourage writers to read widely. With experience, the basic structure of writing can be intuited, but it can also be learned.

 

There are four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. How these clauses are grouped and varied make the words interesting. A clause is a grouping of words with both a subject and a verb that can (but doesn’t always) form a sentence. If the clause can form a complete thought on its own, it’s considered an independent clause. If the clause depends on another part of the sentence to complete the thought, it’s called a dependent clause.

The most common sentence pattern in English is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). This means the sentence typically starts with the subject (who or what is performing the action), followed by the verb (the action itself), and then the object (who or what is receiving the action).

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Subject: The noun or pronoun that performs the action.
  • Verb: The action word.
  • Object: The noun or pronoun that receives the action.

Examples:

  • “John eats pizza.”: (John is the subject, eats is the verb, and pizza is the object)
  • “The dog chased the ball.”: (Dog is the subject, chased is the verb, and ball is the object)
  • “He wrote a letter.”: (He is the subject, wrote is the verb, and letter is the object)

thesarus.com (no affiliation with Authorlink.com) has some good examples of more complex sentence structure.

 

Another critical key to effective (and simple) writing is word choice. Choose the word that says exactly what you mean. And select the one that is simplest and most widely understood. For example, if my character “stares” at someone or something, I choose a word with the most precise meaning. Do I mean, my character “leered”, or “studied” or “gazed”? Each of these words have slightly subtle emotional meanings. “Leer “ means an unpleasant or malicious look. “”Gaze” means to look steadily or intently, especially in admiration or surprise. We could also use “ogled” or “gawped” but these words may feel foreign or inappropriate to the scene.

Simple language isn’t simple to create. To be a good writer, I encourage you to develop a passion for its rhythms; listen how it breathes.