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Four Types of Sentences

This document discusses the four main types of sentences: 1. Simple sentences contain one independent clause with one subject and one verb. 2. Compound sentences contain two independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction or semicolon. 3. Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. 4. Compound-complex sentences contain two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

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29 views

Four Types of Sentences

This document discusses the four main types of sentences: 1. Simple sentences contain one independent clause with one subject and one verb. 2. Compound sentences contain two independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction or semicolon. 3. Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. 4. Compound-complex sentences contain two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Uploaded by

joel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Four Types of Sentences

 A sentence expresses one complete thought.


 A sentence must contain one subject-verb pattern.
 A sentence also is known as an independent clause because it can stand on its own in
meaning.

1. Simple Sentence: A simple sentence is one independent clause.

Ex.: I am. (simple sentence—“I” is the subject and “am” is the verb)

Sue spilled the milk. (simple sentence—“Sue” is the subject and “spilled” is the
verb)

After the rain ended. (fragment—while it does contain a noun, “rain,” and a verb,
“ended,” it begins with a dependent word—“after.” For that reason, it is a
fragment.)

How can we fix it?

After the rain ended, we played outside. (simple sentence—“we” is the subject”
and “played” is the verb. The dependent clause does not make sense on its own,
so it must be connected to an independent clause.)

Bob and Pat drove to Texas. (simple sentence—“Bob and Pat” is a compound
subject, but it’s still a simple sentence because the compound is only doing one
action—“drove.” Compound subjects are similar to plural nouns.)

Harold laughed and cried at the stupid joke. (simple sentence—“Harold” is the
subject and we have a compound verb, “laughed and cried.” It’s not a run-on
because one subject is doing two actions.)

2. Compound Sentence: A compound sentence is two independent clauses placed together


with proper punctuation.

Ex.: The dog was lost yesterday it was later found. (This sentence is a run-on because
it has two independent clauses—“The dog was lost yesterday” and “it was later
found.”

How can we fix it?

Well, we can write it as two simple sentences: The dog was lost yesterday. It was
later found. (“dog” is the subject and “was lost” is the verb. “It” is the subject
and “was found” is the verb.)
Or, we can write a compound sentence using a semicolon (;). A semicolon can
be used instead of a period if the second independent clause goes into more detail
and is closely related to the first independent clause.

NEVER use a comma to connect two independent clauses, or you will wind
up with a comma splice, which is another type of run-on sentence.

The dog was lost yesterday; it was later found. (compound sentence using a ;)

Or, we can use something we probably remember from our childhood when we
watched Saturday morning cartoons: “Conjunction Junction, What’s Your
Function?” A good way to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions is to
use a mnemonic: brain pattern.”

For “because”
And “in addition”
Nor “neither”
But “however/in contrast”
Or “either”
Yet “however/in contrast”
So “therefore/as a result”

1. Paul loves algebra, but he hates chemistry.


2. I do not like green eggs, nor do I like green ham.
3. Henry plays basketball, and he swims in the winter.
4. I went to the bank, for I needed a loan.
5. Paul will go to BTC, or he will go to UW-Rock.
6. Cheryl likes Halloween, yet she hates the devil.
7. Diane failed the final exam, so she did not graduate.

3. Complex Sentence: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one (or
more) dependent clause(s).

Ex.: Because Ralph did not pay his taxes, he was fined. (dependent clause—“Because
Ralph did not pay his taxes” cannot stand on its own. Try saying it to someone in
the street and ask them if they understand what you are saying. It needs to be
attached to the independent clause—“he was fined”—in order for it to make
sense. Therefore, we have a complex sentence.)

Ralph cannot pay his taxes until he gets paid on November 15th. (Here, the
dependent clause comes after the independent clause. The dependent clause is
“until he gets paid on November 15th.” The independent clause is “Ralph cannot
pay his taxes.” The dependent again would make no sense were it not attached to
the independent clause; therefore, we have a complex sentence.)
4. Compound-Complex Sentence: A compound-complex sentence contains two
independent clauses and one (or more) dependent clause(s).

Ex.: After school on Tuesday, Jay-Z and Beyonce drove home from school, and they
hit a cat because Jay-Z was texting while driving.

What are the two independent clauses in this sentence? Jay-Z and Beyonce
drove home from school. They hit a cat.

What are the two dependent clauses in this sentence? After school on
Tuesday. Because Jay-Z was texting while driving.

Homework:

Type and label 10 sentences and punctuate correctly to get full credit.

 1 simple sentence
 1 complex sentence
 1 compound-complex sentence
 1 compound sentence using a ;
 6 compound sentences using each of the FANBOYS once (“but” or “yet”)

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