Sentence Types

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Types of Sentence Structure
Three main kinds according to
the way they are built (i.e.
according to the number of
clauses and whether the clauses
are independent (main) clauses or
dependent (subordinate) clauses.
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 TYPES OF SENTENCES

SIMPLE COMPOUND COMPLEX

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 1. SIMPLE SENTENCES:
Expresses one main idea (complete
thought).
Has one main or independent clause.
Has one subject and one predicate.
The subject contains a noun or a
noun phrase.

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1. SIMPLE SENTENCES:
Example:

Noun phrase Finite verb Prepositional

phrase

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 1. SIMPLE SENTENCES:
The predicate contains a finite verb.
Important note:
Every simple sentence must have a
subject and a verb. If not, it is only a
sentence fragment.

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Sentence or Fragment?
1. Birds fly.

2. We made it.

3. The 20-sen stamps for the cards.

4. Then, seized the opportunity.

5. It must have rained last night.

6. Or could go there in their cars.

7. They took the injured to the hospital.

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Sentence or Fragment?
1. Birds fly. (S)
2. We made it. (S)
3. The 20-sen stamps for the cards. (F)
4. Then, seized the opportunity. (F)
5. It must have rained last night. (S)
6. Or could go there in their cars. (F)
7. They took the injured to the hospital. (S)

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2. COMPOUND SENTENCES:
 Made up of two or more simple
sentences.
 Each of these is a clause.
 Each clause is independent of the other
or has the same rank or order.
 The main clauses are joined by a
coordinating conjunction (eg.: and, but,
or, so, yet, for, nor, etc).

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2. COMPOUND SENTENCES:
 Note:
A comma is usually used after each
clause but before the coordinating
conjunction.

conjunction

Main idea (1) Main idea (2)

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Simple or Compound Sentences?
1. The moon was bright and round.

2. We must eat to live.

3. Suki was poor but he worked hard for a

living.
4. Having overslept, he missed the bus.

5. Pay promptly to ensure continuous water

supply.

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Simple or Compound Sentences?
1. The moon was bright and round. (S)
2. We must eat to live. (S)
3. Suki was poor but he worked hard for a
living. (C)
4. Having overslept, he missed the bus. (S)
5. Pay promptly to ensure continuous water

supply. (S)

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Examples of coordinate
conjunctions:

and but or nor

for yet so

remember

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Practice: Convert Simple Sentences
to Compound Sentences
1. We must eat to live.
2. To avoid punishment, he ran away.
3. He must work hard to make up for
lost time.
4. The teacher punished the boy for
disobedience.
5. Having finished his exercise, he put
away his books.

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Anwers: Convert Simple Sentences
to Compound Sentences
1. We must eat, or we cannot live.
2. He ran away and avoided punishment.
3. He must work hard and make up for
lost time.
4. The boy was disobedient, and so the
teacher punished him.
5. He finished his exercise, and (he) put
away his books.

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3. COMPLEX SENTENCES
 A combination of an independent
clause and one or more dependent
clauses.
 They are not of equal importance.
 The main idea is usually in the
independent clause.

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3. COMPLEX SENTENCES
 The dependent clause is also known as the
subordinate clause. It cannot stand on its
own.
 It has to be connected to an independent
clause with a subordinate conjunction.
Eg.:
The baby cried because he was hungry.

Subordinating Dependent clause

Main clause conjunction

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3. Complex Sentences (contd.)
Note:
A subordinate clause may come before or after
the main clause. If the subordinating clause
comes before the main clause, we put a
comma after it. If it comes after the main
clause, we don’t use the comma.
Eg.:
Because it is raining, we cannot go jogging.
We cannot go jogging because it is raining.

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Examples of subordinate
conjunctions:
as so (that) that who

until if while where

(ever)
even if even though unless when

since in order that after which

(ever)
before as soon as because though

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3. Complex Sentences (contd.)
Note:
Do not use two conjunctions in one
sentence to show the same relationship.
Eg.:

Although he is injured , he played well.

NOT
Although he is injured , but he played well.

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