1.

Simple Sentences

2. Compound Sentences

3. Complex Sentence

4. Complex – Compound Sentences

5. Conditional Sentences

6. Passive Sentences

7. Question Sentences
1. Simple Sentences – discusses about 1 idea (1 independent clause). It can have one or more
subjects, verbs or objects but always talks only about one idea.

Note – A clause is part of a sentence with a subject and a verb

 People like food (SVO)

 Water boils at 1000C (SVO)
 The man and the dog ate the cake (SSVO)
 The cat and the dog ran a race (SSVO)
 My brother and I search for information and play games on our computers (SSVVO)

 My brother and I search for information and play games on our computers and phones
(SSVVOO)
Note the above Sentence is too complicated and hence useless

2. Compound Sentences – Combines 2 simple sentence with a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating Conjunctions:
F – For
A – And
N- Nor
B – But
O – Or
Y -Yet
S – So

 People like food, and they like to watch movies.

 The man and the dog ate the cake, but didn’t run the race.
 He would ride the train, or drive a car.
 The bus had an accident, so they walked to work.

 Computers are used widely in most countries now, and they are a sign of progress, and
we must ensure everyones has access to them.

Note that the above sentence is wrong, because you cannot use one subordinate
conjunction more than once in a sentence to join clauses.

Computers are used widely in most countries now, and they are a sign of progress, so
we must ensure everyone has access to them.
Correct Version
 3. Complex Sentence – Talks about 2 or more ideas. It can start with a relative pronoun or a
subordinate conjunction and or have subordinate conjunctions to join more sentences later on.

Subordinate conjunctions – A conjunction that joins a sentence with cause and effect relationship

after even if unless

although even though until
as if when
as if in order to whenever
as long as in case whereas
as much as once where
as soon as since wherever
as though so that while
because that unless
before though until

Relative Pronouns

Who Which That Where Whose

 Although people like to eat cake, it would harm the health of a person, because cake contains
sugar which is harmful to the body.
 The man ran to the stadium as soon as he saw the suicide bomber walking towards it.
 The police would fight crime, in order to safeguard the general public.

4. Compound-Complex Sentences – Has a compound or simple sentence before or after a complex

sentence.

 I ate a lot when I got home, but I was still hungry.

 The cat ate the cheese, but the mouse didn’t see it, since it was busy eating bread.
 5. Conditional Sentences

type condition Example

I condition possible to fulfill If I study, I'll pass the exam.
(When I study, I will pass the exam)
If I study, I will not fail the exam.
If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.

II condition in theory possible to fulfill If I studied, I'd pass the exam.

If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.
If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam
III condition not possible to fulfill (too late) If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
If I had studied, I would not have failed the
exam.
If I had not studied, I would have failed the
exam.

6. Passive voice –
Active Sentence – The man built the house
Subject Verb Object

Passive Sentence - O - S Be form + Past participle of the verb By + original subject

(optional)
The house was built by the man

7. Question Sentences
 Governments should impose a tax on sugar, but would it really work?
 What would happen if the people rise up against the dictator?
 The question is “Should we continue to improve technology?”