| Term | Definition |
| simple sentence | one finite verb only |
| compound sentence | more than one finite verb, joined by et or sed |
| complex sentence | more than one finite verb, containing a subordinate clause, a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause |
| principle clause | makes sense by itself |
| subordinate clause | is dependant on one of the words in the principle clause |
| temporal clause | introduced by postquam, ubi, simulac |
| causal | introduced by quod |
| relative | introduced by the various forms of qui, qaue, quod |
| concessive | introduced by quamquam |