KINDS OF SENTENCES
Simple, Complex and Compound
Sentences
• A sentence may be one of four kinds,
depending upon the number and type(s)
of clauses it contains.
• An independent clause contains a
subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
SENTENCE
Example: I wrote my first novel last year.
• A dependent clause contains a subject
and a verb, but no complete thought.
Example: After I wrote my first novel,
SIMPLE SENTENCE
• A SIMPLE SENTENCE has one • Examples:
independent clause. • Joe waited for the train.
• It has the most basic elements "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
that make it a sentence: a • I looked for Mary and Samantha at
subject, a verb, and a completed the bus station.
thought. "I" = subject, "looked" = verb
• The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
COMPLEX SENTENCE
• A COMPLEX SENTENCE has one dependent clause
(headed by a subordinating conjunction or a relative
pronoun ) joined to an independent clause.
• A complex sentence joins an independent clause with
one or more dependent clauses.
• Punctuation patterns (to match A, and B above):
• A. Dependent clause, independent clause
• B. Independent clause dependent clause
• after
• although
• as
• because
• before
• even though
• if
SUBORDINATE • since
CONJUNCTIONS • though
• unless
• until
• when
• whenever
• whereas
• wherever
• while
• Joe realized that the train was
late while he waited at the
train station.
• Although Tony reads novels,
EXAMPLES OF Jack reads comics.
COMPLEX SENTENCES • Jack reads comics although
Tony reads novels.
• Jack Smith, who reads
comics, rarely reads novels.
COMPOUND SENTENCES
• A COMPOUND SENTENCE has two independent clauses joined by
A. a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so),
B. a conjunctive adverb (e.g., however, therefore), or
C. a semicolon alone.
• Punctuation patterns (to match A, B, and C above):
A. Independent clause, coordinating conjunction independent clause.
B. Independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause.
C. Independent clause; independent clause.
EXAMPLES OF COMPOUND SENTENCES
• Joe waited for the train, but the train was late. (with
coordinating conjunction)
• Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did
not see them at the bus station. (with coordinating
conjunction)
• Tony reads novels; however, Jack reads comics. (with
conjunctive adverbs)
• I like you a lot; in fact, I think we should be best friends.
(with conjunctive adverbs)
• Jeremy kept talking in class; therefore, he got in trouble.
(with conjunctive adverbs)
• Tom reads novels; his friends read comics. (with semicolon)
COMPOUND - COMPLEX
SENTENCE
It has two independent clauses joined to
one or more dependent clauses.
