Essential Sentence Structures for the Duolingo English Test: A Guide to Higher Scores

Last updated on 06 Feb 2025

Understanding different sentence structures is crucial for the Duolingo English Test. Both Writing and Speaking sections evaluate your range—from simple to compound-complex sentences—to reflect your English skills.

Simple Sentences: Clarity and Precision 🌟

Definition: A simple sentence contains one independent clause with a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought, like "The sun rises."

Advantages: These sentences offer clarity and are great for conveying essential information succinctly. They are especially useful on the Duolingo English Test to present basic ideas clearly, helping maintain error-free language and enhancing readability.

Example: Describing your morning routine, "I drink coffee." This clear, straightforward sentence avoids complexity and errors.

Top 10 Grammar Mistakes That Can Lower Your Score on the Duolingo English Test

Compound Sentences: Adding Depth and Variety 🔗

Definition: Compound sentences connect two independent clauses with conjunctions such as "and," "but," or "so," as in "The sun sets, and the stars appear."

Advantages: These sentences link related ideas, adding depth and flow to your responses. They demonstrate your ability to organize thoughts cohesively, contributing to higher grammatical complexity scores.

🎤

Example: Sharing experiences, "I visited the museum, and I saw an ancient artifact," links actions and enriches the narrative.

Complex Sentences: Exploring Relationships 🌐

Definition: A complex sentence includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, introduced by words like "because," "although," or "when," e.g., "Because it was raining, we stayed indoors."

Advantages: These sentences are perfect for expressing cause-effect relationships and adding layers of detail, showcasing advanced grammar skills necessary for higher scores.

🎤

Example: Explaining preferences, "I study in the morning because it’s quieter," offers insight into personal habits with additional context.

Compound-Complex Sentences: Demonstrating Advanced Proficiency 🎓

Definition: This structure combines multiple independent clauses with one or more dependent clauses, adding complexity, as in "I wanted to go out, but because it was raining, I stayed home."

Advantages: Compound-complex sentences are a hallmark of advanced English proficiency, showing your ability to weave complex ideas with detailed information effectively.

🎤

Example: Discussing challenges, "I manage work and studies, but since I have a family, I prioritize my schedule carefully," highlights balancing different aspects of life with nuanced reasoning.

Why Sentence Variety Matters 📝

Using a mix of sentence types enriches your language, making your responses more engaging and clear. It helps you address descriptive and analytical prompts effectively, boosting your grammatical complexity score.

Boost Your Practice with DET Study 🌐
Enhance your sentence structure skills with DET Study’s comprehensive practice resources. With over 15,000 questions, including daily free exercises and a VIP option, DET Study prepares you to excel on the Duolingo English Test by mastering sentence types and tackling complex questions confidently.