Sentence Types

objective
• Students will learn about dependent & independent clauses, sentence
types on the basis of structure
Sentence structure

Understanding the difference between independent

and dependent clauses is important in understanding
how to construct sentences and avoid fragments. This
knowledge can also help in varying sentence length in
writing, which makes all forms of writing better
Sentence structure

Many writers struggle to write sentences of appropriate

length. Some writers write short sentences, which can make
an essay seem choppy. Other writers tend to write long
sentences, which can make the writing seem long-winded or
wordy, even if it isn’t. Good writing contains sentences of a
variety of lengths: some short, some long, some medium.
Use of variety of sentences
Notice how the writing in this example seems choppy and doesn’t flow
well.
Too many short sentences can hurt an essay. It can make the writing
seem choppy. The writing may seem like it is below college level.
Readers may lose interest. They may not want to continue reading.

Now, look at how this writing can be improved by joining some of these
sentences together with coordinating conjunctions:
Too many short sentences can hurt an essay, for it can make the writing
seem choppy and seem like it is below college level. Because of this,
readers may lose interest and may not want to continue reading.
• Before understanding the different types of clauses, it is important to
understand what a clause is.  A clause is a group of related words that
contains both a subject and a verb. On the other hand, if a group of
related words does not contain a subject with an attached verb, it is
simply a phrase.
Independent clause
An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on its own as
a sentence: it has a subject, a verb, and is a complete thought. 
Examples:
• He ran. (Notice that while this sentence only contains two words, it is
still a complete sentence because it contains a one word subject and a
one word predicate that is also a complete thought.)
• He ran fast.
• I was late to work.
Independent clause
• The paper does not specify which type of format it must be in. 
• The instructor spent the class period reviewing the difference
between independent and dependent clauses.
 Dependent clause
A dependent clause is a group of words that also contains a subject
and a verb, but it is not a complete thought. Because it is not a
complete thought, a dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a
sentence; it is dependent on being attached to an independent clause
to form a sentence.
• Examples:
• Because I woke up late this morning… (what happened?)
• When we arrived in class… (what occurred?)
• If my neighbor does not pay his rent on time… (what will happen?)
 Dependent clause

Dependent clauses can often be identified by words called dependent

markers, which are usually subordinating conjunctions. If a clause begins
with one of these words, it is dependent and needs to be attached to an
independent clause. (Common dependent markers:  after, as, although,
because, before, even though, if, once, rather than, since, that, though,
unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, while, among others.)
Just because an independent clause can stand on its own
doesn’t mean it has to. For instance, one or more
independent clauses can be added together to form a
compound sentence, and independent clauses can be added
to dependent clauses to form complex sentences.
 The Four Sentence Structures

SENTENCE INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT

STRUCTURE CLAUSES CLAUSES

Simple 1 0

Compound 2 or more 0

Complex 1 1 or more

Compound-Complex 2 or more 1 or more

 SENTENCE TYPES
There are four different types of sentences: simple sentences,
compound sentences, complex sentences, and complex-compound
sentences.
1. Simple sentence: 
• A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no
dependent clauses.  Here are some examples of simple sentences:
• He ran. (Notice that this is an example of the shortest sentence
that can ever be written: a one word subject and a one word
predicate that is also a complete thought.)
• He ran fast.
• I was late to work.
 SENTENCE TYPES
1. Simple sentence: 

• I was late to work.

• The ten-page research paper addresses the problem of binge
drinking on college campuses.
SENTENCE TYPES
2. Compound sentence: 
• A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses but
does not contain any dependent clauses.  Here are some examples
of compound sentences:
• My teacher gave me some good advice for making my essay better,
and the tutor also looked it over and provided many suggestions. 
• I had trouble finding sources for my essay, so I went to the writing
center for help.
• Our class started later than it was supposed to, but the teacher
made it interactive. 
SENTENCE TYPES

3.  Complex sentence:
A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses.  Here are some examples of complex sentences:

• While most essays require a substantial time commitment, the

argument essay, which generally requires finding and utilizing
different types of research, is usually the most time consuming to
create. 
• (This sentence has two dependent clauses:  While most essays
require a substantial time commitment… and …which generally
requires finding and utilizing different types of research…)
SENTENCE TYPES
3.  Complex sentence:
• Because my alarm did not go off this morning, I was late to work.

Notice that above sentence begins with a dependent clause (Because

my alarm did not go off this morning,) followed by an independent
clause (I was late to work.) 

The sentence can also be rewritten to begin with the independent

clause, followed by the dependent clause:
• I was late to work this morning because my alarm did not go off this
morning.
SENTENCE TYPES
4. Complex–compound sentence: 
• A complex–compound sentence has two or more independent
clauses and also contains one or more dependent clauses.  Here are
some examples of complex–compound sentences.

• We went to the movie theatre last night and saw the new comedy,
which just came out last Friday, and then we went to dinner at the
local steakhouse. 
• Because I have never written an argument essay for a college class
before, I am worried about my use of outside sources in this paper, so
I hope that I cited everything correctly.
 It is important to understand all of the different types of
sentences that can be constructed and to utilize them when
appropriate.  Good writing incorporates a variety of sentences,
particularly sentences of different lengths.  Remember that as
the writer you are in control of the length of your sentences and
can intentionally create shorter or longer sentences as needed in
any essay.