Faculty of Linguistics and Cultures of English

speaking countries/ ULIS – VNU

Lecture 10
Types of Sentences

For Internal Use Only 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

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

For Internal Use Only Definition

• 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

still watching TV, but the children had

gone to bed.

For Internal Use Only

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

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 3

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

Statements
By function

Questions

Commands

Exclamations

For Internal Use Only

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

For Internal Use Only

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

Short exclamation Exclamations

For Internal Use Only

Introduction to Linguistics 1/ Syntax 6