Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English

speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Week 13
Types of Sentences

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Types of sentences
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• In termsi
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of clauses: • In terms of
communicative functions:
• Simple sentence
• Statement
• Compound sentence
• Question
• Complex sentence
• Command
• Compound complex
sentence • Exclamation

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 1

Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English
speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Types of sentences

In terms of clauses In terms of communicative

functions:
• Simple sentence
• Statement
• Compound sentence
• Question
• Complex sentence
• Command
• Compound complex
sentence • Exclamation

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Definition
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A simple sentence, also called an independent clause,
contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete
thought.

• A compound sentence contains at least two independent

clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as
follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

• A complex sentence has an independent clause and one

or more dependent clauses.

• A compound-complex sentence is made up of at least two

independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 2

Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English
speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Simple E.g.: All these books are mine.

Compound E.g.: He was watching T.V, and she was

cooking.

Complex E.g.: He didn’t want to talk to whoever he

met in the London workshop.

Compound complex E.g.: When I arrived home, my wife was

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still watching TV, but the children had
gone to bed.
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Types of sentences
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In terms of clauses In terms of communicative
functions:
• Simple sentence
• Statement
• Compound sentence
• Question
• Complex sentence
• Command
• Compound complex
sentence • Exclamation

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 3

Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English
speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Statements
By function

Questions

Commands

Exclamations

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Statements
By function

Questions

Sentences in which the subject is always present and

Commands
generally precedes the verb.

Exclamations

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 4

Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English
speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Statements
By function

Questions

Commands
Yes – No Questions Wh - Questions Alternative Questions

Exclamations

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Statements
By function

Questions

Commands

Sentences that make use of the imperative mood in the main,

Exclamations
or sometimes of questions with the initial modal - particularly
with invitations or requests.

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 5

Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English
speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Statements
By function

Questions

Full exclamation Commands

Exclamations
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Short exclamation

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Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 6