English Assignment

By Nadia Utama Nadhilah

16714255

Sentence Variety

Definition of Sentence
Before trying to define a sentence's parts, it might be wise to define a
sentence itself.
A sentence is a group of words containing a subject and verb.
Sometimes, the subject is "understood," as in; "[You] go get a cup of
sugar", but sometimes the subject is not defined clearly. That
probably means that the shortest possible complete sentence is
something like "Go!". A sentence ought to express a thought that can
stand by itself, but sometimes there is additional information on
thoughts that cannot stand by themselves and sentences known as
"stylistic fragments."

Classification of Sentences
There are various classification of sentences.

One of the classification of sentence are defined according to

function, also known as the four fundamental sentences, such as:
1. Declarative.
Sentences make a statement to relay information or ideas.
Example : August 17th is Independence day.
2. Interrogative.
Sentences that ask a question and end in a question mark.
Example : Have you had breakfast?
3. Exclamatory.
Sentences that express strong emotion.
Example : Oh, my goodness, I won!
4. Imperative.
Sentences issue commands or requests or they can express a
desire or wish.
Example : Please respond immediately.

The other types of sentences is sentences that defined according to

the number and type(s) of clauses it contains. In this paper, this type
of sentences will be explained in more detail in the next point.

Sentences According to Its Clauses

Before explaining further information about these sentences, its
better for us to know about clauses. Here is a brief review about
independence and dependence clauses:
a. An independent clause
Contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Example : I did my homework last night.
b. A dependent clause
Contains a subject and a verb, but no complete thought.
Example: After I did my homework last night.

So, the difference between the clauses is very simple, whether the
thought is complete or not. Thus, such sentences that defined
according to the number and types of clauses it contains are divided
into four categories; simple sentences, compound sentences, complex
sentences, and compound-complex sentences.

Simple Sentences
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a
subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
It does NOT contain either a dependent clause or another simple
sentence. But the simple sentences may have compound subject,
compound verb, or compound object.

Examples of simple sentences:

Mike reads novels.
Mike reads comics.
Mike reads novels and comics. (compound object)
Mike reads novels and enjoys comics. (compound verb)
Mike and Jimmy read novels. (compound subject)

Mike and Jimmy read novels and enjoy comics. (compound subject,
verb, and object)

Punctuation note:
No

commas

separate two compound

elements

(subject,

verb,

direct object, indirect object, subjective complement, etc.) in a simple

sentence.

Compound Sentence
A compound

sentence has

two

independent

clauses

joined

by

conjunctions.
However, there are several types of conjunctions that followed
compound sentences;
a. Coordinating conjunction
Coordinating conjunctions join equals to one another; words to
words, phrases to phrases, clauses to clauses.
Conjunctions; for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)
Examples:
I love to read novels and comics. (word to word)
The children are playing in the tree house or backyard. (phrase
to phrase)
What you say and what you do are two different things. (clause
to clause)

b. Conjunctive adverb
These conjunctions join independent clauses together.
These are list of frequently used conjunctive adverbs:

after all

in addition

next

also

incidentally

nonetheless

as a result

indeed

on the contrary

besides

in fact

on the other hand

consequently

in other words

otherwise

finally

instead

still

for example

likewise

then

furthermore

meanwhile

therefore

hence

moreover

thus

however

nevertheless

c. A semicolon alone.
Semicolon:
1. Between independent clauses not joined by coordinating
conjunctions.
Example:
We promised to met afterschool; by the evening she hasnt
shown up.
2. Between independent

clauses joined

by

a conjunctive

adverb.
Example:
We promised to met afterschool; however, by the evening
she hasnt shown up.
3. Between items in a series containing internal punctuation.

Example:
Mike, who reads novels; and James, who reads comics,
always go to the central bookstore together for months.
4. Between
independent
clauses containing internal
punctuation

-even

when

the

clauses

are

joined

by coordinating conjunctions.
Example:
To become a smart person, we need to study; but to keep our
mind fresh, we need a day off.

Compound sentences examples:

a. Mike reads novels, but James plays online games.
b. Mike reads novels; however James plays online games.
c. Mike reads novels; his friend plays online games.

Punctuation patterns (to match a, b, c and d above):

a. Independent clause, coordinating conjunction independent
clause.
b. Independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause.
c. Independent clause; independent clause.

Complex Sentences
A complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more
dependent clauses.
A complex sentence always has a subordinating conjunction, or a
relative pronoun.

Subordinating Conjunctions
A subordinating
conjunction joins

a subordinate

clause to

a main clause.
These words are commonly used subordinating conjunctions:

after

how

till

although

if

unless

as

In as much

until

as if

in order that

when

as long as

lest

whenever

as much as

now that

where

as soon as

provided

wherever

as though

since

while

because

so that

before

than

even if

that

even though

though

Relative Pronoun
A relative pronoun is used to connect a clause or phrase to a
noun or pronoun.
Most common relative pronoun being :
who
whom
which
whoever
whomever whichever

that
Examples of complex sentences:
a. Even though Mike reads novels, James plays online games.
b. James plays online games even though Mike reads novels.
c. James Bond, who plays online games, rarely reads novels.
d. People who play online games rarely read novels.

Punctuation patterns (to match a, b, c and d above):

a. Dependent clause, independent clause.
b. Independent clause dependent clause.
c. Independent, nonessential dependent clause,
clause.
d. Independent essential dependent clause
clause.

Compound Complex Sentence

Compound complex sentence has two independent clauses joined to
one or more dependent clauses.

Example of compound complex sentences :

a. While Mike reads novels, James plays online games, but Billy
watches movies.
b. Mike reads novels, but James plays online games because books
are boring.
c. James, who plays online games, rarely reads novels; however
Mike enjoys novels.
d. People who plays online games rarely reads novels; they often
find books are boring.

 Punctuation patterns (to match a, b, c and d above):

a. dependent clause , independent clause , independent clause .
b. independent clause , independent clause , dependent clause .
c. independent clause subject
dependent clause
independent clause verb and obj
clause .
d. independent

clause

; connector , independent

subject

independent clause verb and obj

dependent

clause

; independent clause .

Connectors of compound complex sentences:

Two independent clauses may be joined by
a. Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
b. Conjunctive adverbs.
A dependent (subordinate) clause may be introduced by
a. Subordinating conjunctions (adverb clause)
b. Relative pronouns (adjective clause)
c. Relative
pronoun,
subordinating
conjunctions,
or adverbs (noun clause)

Sources of materials and references:

http://www.towson.edu/ows/sentences.htm
http://eslbee.com/sentences.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sentences.htm
http://www.k12reader.com/4-sentence-types/