Types of Sentences

The Simple Sentence

What is a sentence?
■ A group of words with a subject, a verb and a
complete idea.
■

What is a simple sentence?

■ A sentence with one subject and one main verb.

■
 Simple Sentence Example

This is a simple sentence. It contains one subject

and one verb .
 SIMPLE SENTENCE
with compound subject

Tom and Mary play tennis.

 SIMPLE SENTENCE
with compound subject
and
compound predicate

Tom and Mary play tennis and swim.

 Compound Sentence
■ A compound sentence consists of two or more
independent clauses (or simple sentences) joined by
coordinating conjunctions like "and," "but," and "or":
■ Simple
• Canada is a rich country.
■ Simple
• Still, it has many poor people.
■ Compound
• Canada is a rich country, but still it has many poor people.
What is an independent clause?
■ A subject, verb and complete idea– it
can be a sentence on its own!
■
 Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two independent
clauses that are joined together.

She works in the city, but she lives in the suburbs.

Independent Independent
Clause Clause
 Compound Sentence with
Coordinating Conjunctions
 COMPOUND SENTENCE:
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Hani swims, and Sami plays tennis.

Clause 1 Clause 2
Independent Independent
COMPOUND SENTENCE:
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

FOR
AND
NOR
BUT
OR
YET
SO
 COMPOUND SENTENCE:
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

Fahd is handsome; moreover, he is rich.

Clause 1 Clause 2
Independent Independent
COMPOUND SENTENCE:
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS

MOREOVER
HOWEVER
OTHERWISE
THEREFORE
Coordinating Conjunctions
Logical Relationship Coordinating Conjunction

Addition And

Contrast But, yet

Choice Or, nor

Cause For

Result So
Complex &
Compound-complex
Sentences

“We can do anything we want as long as we stick to it long enough.”

Helen Keller
 The Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains one independent clause
.and at least one dependent clause
Unlike a compound sentence, however, a complex
sentence contains clauses which are not equal.
:Consider the following examples
Simple
.My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go
Compound
.My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go
Complex
.Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go
 The Complex Sentence
In the first example, there are two separate simple
sentences: "My friend invited me to a party" and "I do not
".want to go
The second example joins them together into a single
sentence with the coordinating conjunction "but," but
both parts could still stand as independent sentences --
they are entirely equal, and the reader cannot tell which
.is most important
In the third example, however, the sentence has
changed quite a bit: the first clause, "Although my friend
invited me to a party," has become incomplete, or a
.dependent clause
 The Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is very different from a simple
sentence or a compound sentence because it makes
clear which ideas are most important. When you write
.My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go
or even
.My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go
The reader will have trouble knowing which piece of
information is most important to you. When you write the
subordinating conjunction "although" at the beginning of
the first clause, however, you make it clear that the fact
that your friend invited you is less important than, or
.subordinate, to the fact that you do not want to go
?Are these sentences
▪ When we went on a long journey through the
woods on a sunny Friday morning.
▪ It was fine.
▪ Because he was not only tall but also one of
the hardest workers in the area.
▪ Sing that song.
(View answers on the next slide.)
!Answers
(Dependent clause)When we went on
a long journey through the woods
on a sunny Friday morning.
(Sentence)It was fine.
(Dependent Clause)Because he was
not only tall but also one of the
hardest workers in the area.
(Sentence)Sing that song.
What is a dependent clause?
▪ A group of words with a subject and verb, but
not expressing a complete idea.

▪
▪
▪
▪
▪ ’

▪ A dependent clause cannot stand on its own!

 …A dependent clause

▪ Cannot stand on its own because it does not

express a complete thought because…
▪ It begins with a subordinating conjunction
▪ (because, although, until, whether, etc.) BUT…
▪ It can join an independent clause (simple
sentence) to become a…
▪ Complex sentence!
The Complex Sentence
Complex sentences have a different structure
:from simple and compound sentences

or

=
A complex sentence contains 1 independent clause and
1 or more dependent clauses. If a dependent clause
begins the sentence, there normally is a comma (,) after
it. If an independent clause begins a complex sentence
there should not be a comma after it.
Subordinating Conjunctions
After how Until
Although if Unless
As in as much as if
in order that When as long as
At least Whenever as much as
now that whereas soon
wherever as though Since
While because so that
Before even if That
even though though
 Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains at least one
independent clause and one dependent clause.

John cannot set up his typewriter

Independent Clause

because the wall has no outlet.

Subordinating Dependent Clause

Conjunction
 An example of Complex Sentences

A complex sentence contains at least one

independent clause and one dependent clause.
She will go to school in the city
Independent Clause

until she finds a job.

Subordinating Dependent Clause

Conjunction
 Complex Sentences
Use a comma after a dependent clause if it begins
the sentence.
When I first moved to the city,

Subordinating Use a comma if

Conjunction the dependent
clause is the first
part of the
sentence.
I was afraid to drive the steep and narrow streets.

Independent
Clause
The COMPLEX Sentence

▪ A complex sentence contains an independent

clause and at LEAST one dependent clause.
▪ Both clauses in the sentence are not equal.
They can not both be dependent or
independent.

EXAMPLE:
She planted the flowers that he enjoyed
smelling.
Complex Sentence
 Complex Example
Although she worked hard to gain
recognition, many people did not
know who she was.

is a dependent
clause because it begins with the subordinating
conjunction .
would be an independent clause, therefore making the
sentence a complex sentence.
In a complex sentence, either the dependent or the
independent clause can come first:

[You do not usually need a comma

if the independent clause is first.]
although, but, however
All of these words join clauses in
sentences, but they are different
parts of speech.
This presentation explains the
impact of the word choice on
sentence pattern and punctuation.
although, but, however
Semantic similarity
These three words are related
:semantically (in meaning)

they all signal a contrast in the

information that follows with the
information that precedes.
although, but, however
Structural difference
However, these words differ

structurally: they are different parts of

speech and affect sentence patterns in

different ways.
parts of speech
 Review although, but, however

▪ Although makes a clause dependent

and the sentence complex.
▪ But joins independent clauses in a
compound sentence.
▪ However can join independent clauses
but does not change their
independence.
 The Compound-Complex Sentence
The compound-complex sentence has the following structure:

It does not have to be in that order. A dependent clause can

stand in between two independent clauses. The rule is
there should be at least two independent and at least one
dependent clause in a compound-complex sentence.
Compound-Complex Sentences
▪ A compound-complex sentence is a
sentence that has at least two independent
clauses and at least one dependent clause.
▪ The same subordinating conjunctions are
used to introduce the dependent clauses.
▪ The same coordinating conjunctions
(FANBOYS) are used for joining the
independent clauses.
Compound-Complex
Example
Although she worked hard to gain recognition, many
people did not know who she was, and her friends did
not even appreciate her work.

Here, we added an extra clause to the complex

sentence we used earlier –
. Adding this independent clause with
the coordinating conjunction makes this a
compound-complex sentence.
 Compound/Complex
▪ The kitty purred softly, and she bounced on
the pillow as her master read a funny
magazine.

▪ The soldiers did not think they would reach

the bridge because the bridge was far
away, and they were being eaten alive by
hundreds of mosquitoes.
 .Sample Compound-Complex Senten
After the two adversaries had spent years
playing this “cat and mouse” game, they were
joined by their children, and the fun continued.
Even though it seems the two were bent on the
other’s destruction, the cat and mouse were
rather fond of one another, and neither wanted
the other’s defeat.
This game was begun thousands of years ago,
and it will continue far into the future as other
cats and mice revel in hide-and-seek.
Compound-Complex Sentence
Compound-Complex Sentence
 More practice
□ Most of the rotten eggs missed the actors, but
one hit the orchestra.
■ Compound
□ Because the weather along the coast was cold
and rainy, we spent the day in the desert.
■ Complex
□ When he had finished the test, Ernie ate a gallon
of chocolate ice cream, and Sandra drank a
chocolate shake.
■ Compound complex
□ A lion, a tiger, and a bear appeared on stage.
■ Simple
 .Even more practice
□ Saul’s car started to fall apart after the mechanic
adjusted the carburetor.
■ Complex
□ When his computer crashed for the third time, Bill began
to weep, and his mother tried to console him.
■ Compound complex
□ Sylvia who is my sister’s best friend set out to find a red
rose.
■ Complex
□ The rum was aboard, and the harpoons were sharp, but
Ahab hesitated.
■ Compound
 The Four Types of Sentences
Simple
We drove from St. John’s to Corner Brook in one day.
Compound
We were exhausted, but we arrived in time for my
mother’s birthday party.
Complex
( Although she is now 81 years old ), she still claims to
be 75.
Compound-complex
( After it was all over ), my mother claimed she knew we
were planning something, but we think she was
really surprised.
 Review
1. Mary went to the park, but John stayed at home.
2. Tom wanted to exercise, so he went for a walk.
3. The dog that ate my homework is sick.
4. Mary likes reading; John likes television.
5. Bill is the one who usually sits here.
6. When the movie was over, we went to Moo Moos for
ice cream, but my favourite flavour was all gone.
7. John who sits behind me is on the basketball team.
8. While we were away, the girl who was looking after our
cat discovered that she had an allergy to them.
9. You can study now or pray later.
10. All that glitters is not gold.
Answers 1. Compound
1. Mary went to the park, but John stayed
at home. 2. Compound
2. Tom wanted to exercise, so he went for
a walk. 3. Complex
3. The dog that ate my homework is sick.
4. Mary likes reading; John likes television. 4. Compound
5. Bill is the one who usually sits here. 5. Complex
6. When the movie was over, we went to
Moo Moos for ice cream, but my 6. Compound-Complex
favourite flavour was all gone.
7. John who sits behind me is on the 7. Complex
basketball team.
8. Compound-Complex
8. While we were away, the girl who was
looking after our cat discovered that she 9. Simple
had an allergy to them.
9. You can study now or pray later. 10. Complex
10. All that glitters is not gold.