Types of sentences
1. Simple One independent clause (IC) - we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep
with a subject and a verb. It (MC)
expresses a complete
thought.
2. Complex One independent clause (IC) - When we arrived home, (SC)
+ one or more dependent
- we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep
clauses (DC). The dependent
clause cannot stand alone (MC)
and is introduced by a
subordinating conjunction
(e.g., because, although,
when, if).
3. Compound Two or more independent - we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep
clauses (IC) joined by a (MC)
coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, - and the newspapers had not been delivered. (MC)
or, yet, so) or a semicolon (;).
4. Compound At least two independent - When we arrived home, (SC)
Complex clauses (IC) + one or more
- we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep
dependent clauses (DC). It
combines the structures of (MC)
compound and complex - and the newspapers had not been delivered. (MC)
sentences.
A. For each sentence below, identify whether it is simple, complex, compound, or compound-complex.
Write your answer next to the sentence.
1. She went to the store, and she bought some groceries.
2. Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.
3. The dog barked loudly at the stranger.
4. After the movie ended, we went out for dinner, and we discussed the plot.
5. I wanted to go to the party, but I had too much homework.
Simple sentence patterns
Simple sentences come in 4 patterns.
1. S-V–The baby played with his toys. Baby is the subject and played is the verb. This sentence contains
one independent clause and is a complete thought.
2. S-S-V—John and Mary took a vacation. ‘John and Mary’ is a double subject, but the sentence still has
only one clause. There is still only one complete thought in the sentence.
3. S-V-V–The couple next door painted their house and planted a garden. The sentence has a double
verb but contains only one complete thought.
4. S-S-V-V—Bob and Bill played football and watched TV. Even though the sentence has a double subject
and a double verb, it contains only one complete thought.
B. For each sentence below, identify whether it follows the S-V, S-S-V, S-V-V, or S-S-V-V pattern. Write your
answer next to the sentence.
1. The children laughed and played.
2. Sarah and Tom baked a cake.
3. The sun rose.
4. The dog barked and wagged its tail.
5. Lisa and Anna sang and danced.
Compound sentences
Compound sentences are built on simple sentences. They contain two independent clauses. This means that
each clause can stand alone, and could be a complete simple sentence. We link the two clauses together with
a coordinating conjunction. You can remember the coordinating conjunctions with the acronym, FANBOYS
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Put a comma (,) between the clauses right before the conjunction. We use
compound sentences frequently in both speaking and writing.
1. Carlos doesn’t speak English, for he is from Cuba. Carlos doesn’t speak English is one clause and could
be a complete, simple sentence. He is from Cuba is the second clause and could also be a complete,
simple sentence. For means “because.”
2. I live in Colorado, and my family lives in New York. And means that each cause in the sentence is of
equal weight and importance.
3. I don’t like milk, nor do I like cottage cheese. Nor means that both clauses are equally negative.
4. She is a doctor, but her brother is a lawyer. But shows contrast.
5. You can come with us, or you can stay at home. Or shows us that there is a choice.
6. They were tired, yet they went out to see a movie. Yet means that they did something even though
they had a good reason not to.
7. Joseph was sick, so he went to the doctor. So tells us that the second clause is the result of the first.
Sometimes the clauses in a complex sentence can be linked with a semi-colon (;) instead of a coordinating
conjunction.
His plane landed late; he took an Uber to his hotel.
C. Combine the following pairs of simple sentences into compound sentences using an appropriate
coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or a semicolon. Don’t forget to add a comma before the conjunction!
1. I wanted to go to the park. It started raining.
2. She loves to read books. She also enjoys writing stories.
3. He didn’t study for the test. He didn’t do well.
4. You can take the bus. You can walk to school.
5. They were exhausted. They stayed up to finish the project.
Complex sentences
Complex sentences contain two clauses. One is an independent clause meaning that it can stand alone. The
other is a dependent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone. It would not make sense without the
independent clause. The two clauses are linked by a subordinating conjunction. We use complex sentences in
conversation, but we use them more often in writing.
Types of subordinating conjunctions
There are 6 types of subordinating conjunctions. You will see example sentences using each type. The
dependent clause may come before are after the independent clause. If the dependent clause comes first, we
separate the clauses with a comma.
1. Contrast: although, even though, while, though
Even though he earns a good salary, he never has any money. He never has any money is the independent
clause. It could stand alone as a simple sentence. Even though he earns a good salary is the dependent clause.
It does not make sense by itself, but it gives the sentence a new meaning when it joined to the independent
clause.
2. Cause: because, since, as
Because she hated snow, she moved to Florida.
3. Condition: if, when, unless
Don’t come to work late unless you want to get fired. The sentence begins with the independent clause, don’t
come to work late. Since the independent clause comes first, there is no need for a comma.
4. Time: whenever, once, before, after, until, as soon as
As soon as I find a new job, I’ll start looking for a better car.
5. Place: where, wherever
I want to vacation on a tropical island where the beaches are beautiful.
6. Relative pronouns: who, which, that
The person who invented Scotch tape was a genius. Note that the dependent clause, who invented Scotch
tape, comes in the middle of the independent clause. The independent clause is the person was a genius. We
place the dependent clause next to the word it describes, person.
D. For each complex sentence below, identify the dependent clause and the independent clause. Write your
answers next to the sentence.
1. Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
Dependent:
Independent:
2. She stayed home because she was feeling sick.
Dependent:
Independent:
3. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
Dependent:
Independent:
4. The book, which I borrowed from the library, was very interesting.
Dependent:
Independent:
5. As soon as the movie ended, we went out for dinner.
Dependent:
Independent:
Compound-complex sentences
Compound-complex sentences are a combination of a compound sentence and a complex sentence.
Therefore, these sentences have at least 3 clauses: two independent clauses and at least one dependent
clause. Of all the sentence types, this one can be very long and complicated to read and understand. We don’t
use compound-complex sentences much when speaking. Instead, we use them more in very formal or
academic writing. Here is an example of a compound-complex sentence.
After the Broncos lost the Super Bowl, they cleaned out their lockers, and they boarded the plane for home.
After the Broncos lost the Super Bowl is the dependent clause. The first independent clause is they cleaned
out their lockers. The second is they boarded the plane for home.
E. For each compound-complex sentence below, identify the dependent clause and the two independent
clauses. Write your answers next to the sentence.
1. After the movie ended, we went out for dinner, and we discussed the plot.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
2. Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed early.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
3. When the storm started, we took shelter, but the power went out.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
4. Because he missed the bus, he was late to work, and his boss was upset.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
5. If you study hard, you will pass the exam, and you will feel proud of yourself.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
