Sentences: Simple, Compound, and

Complex
A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences. Becoming aware of three
general types of sentences--simple, compound, and complex--can help you vary the
sentences in your writing.
The most effective writing uses a variety of the sentence types explained below.
1. Simple Sentences
A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb,
and a completed thought.
Examples of simple sentences include the following:
1. Joe waited for the train.
"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
2. The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
3. Mary and Samantha took the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.
"I" = subject, "looked" = verb 
5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" = compound verb  

Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some
of the sentences into compound or complex sentences (explained below).
The use of compound subjects, compound verbs, prepositional phrases (such as "at the
bus station"), and other elements help lengthen simple sentences, but simple sentences
often are short. The use of too many simple sentences can make writing "choppy" and can
prevent the writing from flowing smoothly.  
A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is referred to as
"independent" because, while it might be part of a compound or complex sentence, it can
also stand by itself as a complete sentence.
 
2. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent clauses (or
complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating conjunction.
Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of the words "FAN BOYS":
 For
 And
 Nor
 But
 Or
 Yet
 So
Examples of compound sentences include the following:
1. Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
 
2. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the station before
noon and left on the bus before I arrived.
 
3. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the bus
before I arrived.
 
4. Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus
station.

Tip: If you rely heavily on compound sentences in an essay, you should consider
revising some of them into complex sentences (explained below).
Coordinating conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but compound sentences
often are overused. While coordinating conjunctions can indicate some type of
relationship between the two independent clauses in the sentence, they sometimes do not
indicate much of a relationship. The word "and," for example, only adds one independent
clause to another, without indicating how the two parts of a sentence are logically related.
Too many compound sentences that use "and" can weaken writing.
Clearer and more specific relationships can be established through the use of complex
sentences. 
 
3. Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent
clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or
complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that would make it a complete
sentence. 
Examples of dependent clauses include the following:
 because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon
 while he waited at the train station
 after they left on the bus
Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be
added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most
common subordinating conjunctions:
 after
 although
 as
 because
 before
 even though
 if
 since
  though
 unless
 until
 when
 whenever
 whereas
 wherever
 while
A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.
The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as
in the following:
Tip: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the
two clauses.
1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at
the station.
2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.
3. After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train
station.
Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the
dependent clause, as in the following:
Tip: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to
separate the two clauses.
1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station
before noon.
2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station.
3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on
the bus.
Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex
sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main parts of the
sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers that one thing occurs before
another. A word such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a word
such as "and" conveys.
The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a complex sentence beginning with a
dependent clause and ending with an independent clause, as in "While he waited at the
train station, Joe realized that the train was late."

Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed thought occurs at
the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build up to the meaning that comes at the
end.
Beginning Sentences with "And" or "Because"
Should you begin a sentence with "and" or "but" (or one of the other coordinating
conjunctions)?
The short answer is "no." You should avoid beginning a sentence with "and," "or," "but,"
or the other coordinating conjunctions. These words generally are used to join together
parts of a sentence, not to begin a new sentence.
However, such sentences can be used effectively. Because sentences beginning with these
words stand out, they are sometimes used for emphasis. If you use sentences beginning
with one of the coordinating conjunctions, you should use these sentences sparingly and
carefully.
Should you begin a sentence with "because"?
There is nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with "because."
Perhaps some students are told not to begin a sentence with "because" to avoid sentence
fragments (something like "Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before
noon" is a sentence fragment), but it is perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with
"because" as long as the sentence is complete (as in "Because Mary and Samantha arrived
at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.")
EXERCISES:
A .Complete the sentences with although, in spite of, because, because of:
1. ............... it rained a lot, we enjoyed our holiday.
2. ...........................all our careful plans, a lot of things were wrong.
3. .......................we´d planned everything carefully, a lot of things went wrong.
4. I went home early......................... I was feeling unwell.
5. I went to work the next day........................ I was still feeling unwell.
6. She only accepted the job.............................the salary, which was very high.
7. She accepted the job..................................the salary, which was rather low.
8. I managed to get to sleep....................................there was a lot of noise.
9. I couldn´t get to sleep................................. the noise.
B.Put in in case or if:
1. I´ll draw a map for you......................... you have difficulty finding it.
2. You should tell the police .................... you have any information about the crime.
3. I hope you´ll come to London sometime. ............... you come, you can stay with us.
4. This letter is for John. Can you give it to him................ you see him.
5. Write your name and address on your suitcase .......................... you lose it.
6. Go to the lost property office ........................ you lose your bag.
7. The alarm will ring .............................. somebody tries to break into the house.
8. You should lock your bike .......................... somebody tries to steal it.
C. Choose the correct expression for each sentence:
1. I´m playing tennis tomorrow unless/providing it rains.
2. I´m playing tennis tomorrow unless/providing it doesn´t rain.
3. I don´t mind if you come home late unless/as long as you come in quietly.
4. I don´t watch TV unless/as long as I´ve got nothing else to do.
5. Unless/provided they are with an adult, children are not allowed to use the swimming
pool.
6. Children are allowed to use the swimming pool unless/provided they are with an adult.
D.Use your own ideas to complete the following sentences:
1. He passed the exam although..........................................
2. He passed the exam because/as.......................................
3. I didn´t eat anything although...........................................
4. Since I didn´t eat anything................................................
5. In spite of the fact that I was very hungry.........................
6. I didn´t eat anything in spite of..........................................
7. I couldn´t eat despite..........................................................
8. I got very wet even though........................................
9. I hurried so that ..............................................
10. I left Dave my phone number so that.........................
11. Please arrive early so that...............................
12. We´ll be late unless............................................
13. I like hot weather as long as.................................
14. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to school provided.......................
15. I don´t mind walking home as long as...........................................
16. You can borrow the money providing..........................................
17. You won´t achieve anything unless...........................................