Types of Sentences

Or How To Really Impress People

With Your Sentence Variety
Types of Sentences
 Sentences are classified according to
the number and kinds of clauses they
contain. There are four types:
 Simple
 Complex
 Compound
 Compound-Complex

Let’s look at each one of these more closely.

Types of Sentences

The Simple Sentence

A simple sentence has only one independent

clause and no subordinate clauses.

S V DO ADV
The runner won the race easily.
 Types of Sentences

The Compound Sentence

A compound sentence has two or more

independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.

S V ADV S V DO ADV
The runner trained for many months, so he won the race easily.
 Types of Sentences

The Complex Sentence

A complex sentence has one independent clause

and one or more subordinate clauses.

S S V ADV V DO ADV
The runner, who had trained for many months, won the race easily.
 Types of Sentences

The Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence has two independent

clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.

S S V ADV V DO ADV
The runner, who had trained for many months, won the race easily,
S V DO
but she did not attain a personal best.
Types of Sentences
It may be helpful to remember them in this way:

Type of Independent Subordinate

sentence Clauses Clauses
Simple One None

Compound Two or more None

Complex One One or more

Compound- Two or more One or more

Complex
 Types of Sentences

Identify the sentence type in the following:

She smiled sweetly, and he grinned shyly. Compound

Mary and Tom agreed to meet after school. Simple

I had a poor background, and the subject was quite

difficult; however, the teacher explained the concepts
very clearly. Compound
 Types of Sentences

Identify the sentence type in the following:

Because the store was closed, we returned home. Complex

The old prospector was discouraged; however, when I

suggested giving up, he was indignant. Compound-complex

Although my friends were lost for a while, they eventually

found the restaurant that you recommended. Complex