Carbohydrates can be classified into monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides based on their structure. Monosaccharides are the simplest and include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Oligosaccharides contain 2-10 monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds, and include disaccharides like sucrose and maltose. Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides and include starch, glycogen, and cellulose. They function as energy storage and provide structure in plants and animals.