SALALE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES &

HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE &
LITERATURE

Basic Writing Skills

BY:
Ifa Gereshu (MA in TEFL)

JULY, 2021
 Sentence Classification
In terms of their structure, sentences could be classified into four
types.
Structure of a sentence refers to the constituent parts from which the
sentence is formed.
Thus based on these constituent parts, we can categorize sentences
into:
 simple,
 compound,
 complex and
 compound–complex sentences.
 Cont’d
a) Simple Sentence
A simple sentence is a sentence with one main clause or a
sentence with both the subject and the predicate could be
simple or compound.
Examples:
 I played tennis.(simple subject and predicate)
 I and my brother played tennis. (compound subject and
simple predicate)
 I played tennis and took shower. (simple subject and
compound predicate)
 I and my brother played tennis and took shower. (compound
subject and compound Predicate)
 Cont’d
b) Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is made up of two independent/ main
clauses.
There are three ways to join the Independent clauses:
1. With a coordinator
Independent clause, + coordinator + independent clause
There are seven coordinators, which are also called coordinating
conjunctions. You can remember them by the phrase FAN
BOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).
Azeb studied hard, so she scored a good grade.
You must be early, or you will miss the bus.
The driver couldn’t control the speed of the car, for he was
totally drunk.
 Cont’d
2. Semicolon (;)
Independent clause + semicolon + independent clause
 Haile is running very fast; he seems to win the race.
 John must be sick; he would be here.
 She made coffee; she cooked breakfast.
 He worked hard; He became rich.
 Cont’d
3 Adverb Conjunctions
Independent clause; + Adverb Conjunctions, + independent
clause
Adverb Conjunction is an adverb used to relate and connect main
clauses in a sentence. Common conjunctive adverbs are:
also still consequently however indeed
hence then furthermore moreover likewise
thus instead nevertheless therefore otherwise
Example:
I ordered the concert tickets by mail; therefore, I didn’t have to
stand in line.
Our muscles were tired and sore; nevertheless, we kept on
jogging.
 Cont’d
c) Complex Sentence
This is a type of sentence made up of one independent
clause and one or more than one dependent/subordinate
clauses. Common examples of dependent markers are:
because, before, since, as, while, although, if, until, when,
after, as if etc.
Example:
1. because I had lost my wallet, I had no way to pay my fee.
2. I had no way to pay my fee because I had lost my wallet.
In brief, when a dependent clause and an independent clause
are combined into one sentence to express an idea, the
sentence is called a complex sentence.
 Cont’d
d) Compound –Complex Sentence
A compound –complex sentence is a sentence with two main
clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.
In other words, as the name indicates, compound –complex
sentence has a compound sentence and a complex sentence.
The following example illustrates the idea.
Examples:
Because I had been careless, my key had been lost, and I had no
way to enter the home.
Because you are an English students, some people expect you to
speak fluently, and other people expect you to write perfectly.
The class is inconvenient; however, we should cover the course
since it is compulsory.
 Questions
1. Write two simple sentences with one subject and one verb.
2. Write two simple sentences with one subject and two verbs.
3. Write two simple sentences with two subjects and one verb.
4. Write two simple sentences with two subjects and two verbs.
5. Write two examples of compound Sentence
6. Write three examples of complex Sentence
7. Write four examples of compound Complex Sentence
END OF THE DAY’S LESSON!!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!