Sentence Types
I. Simple Sentence
I. Simple Sentence
A. A simple sentence is one independent
clause by itself.
I. Simple Sentence
A. A simple sentence is one independent
clause by itself.
B. Examples:
1. My mother belongs to a club.
I. Simple Sentence
A. A simple sentence is one independent
clause by itself.
B. Examples:
1. My mother belongs to a club.
2. Argentina and Chile are in South
America.
I. Simple Sentence
A. A simple sentence is one independent
clause by itself.
B. Examples:
1. My mother belongs to a club.
2. Argentina and Chile are in South
America.
3. James read Stuart Little and reported on
it.
I. Simple Sentence
A. A simple sentence is one independent clause
by itself.
B. Examples:
1. My mother belongs to a club.
2. Argentina and Chile are in South America.
3. James read Stuart Little and reported on it.
II. Compound Sentence
A. A compound sentence has two or more
independent clauses that are joined by a comma
and a connecting word.
B. In compound sentences, a conjunction
connects the sentences.
B. In compound sentences, a conjunction
connects the sentences.
C. A comma comes before the conjunction.
B. In compound sentences, a conjunction
connects the sentences.
C. A comma comes before the conjunction.
D. Examples:
1. I forgot my lunch, but dad ran to the
bus with it.
B. In compound sentences, a conjunction
connects the sentences.
C. A comma comes before the conjunction.
D. Examples:
1. I forgot my lunch, but dad ran to the
bus with it.
2. She likes sweets, yet she seldom eats
them.
B. In compound sentences, a conjunction
connects the sentences.
C. A comma comes before the conjunction.
D. Examples:
1. I forgot my lunch, but dad ran to the
bus with it.
2. She likes sweets, yet she seldom eats them.
E. Sometimes the independent clauses in a
compound sentence are joined by a semi-colon ( ;
)
B. In compound sentences, a conjunction
connects the sentences.
C. A comma comes before the conjunction.
D. Examples:
1. I forgot my lunch, but dad ran to the
bus with it.
2. She likes sweets, yet she seldom eats them.
E. Sometimes the independent clauses in a
compound sentence are joined by a semi-colon ( ;
)
F. If they are joined by a semi-colon, do not use a
connecting word.
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials
on it.
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials
on it.
2. A spider is not an insect; it is an
arachnid.
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials
on it.
2. A spider is not an insect; it is an
arachnid.
III. Complex Sentence
A. A complex sentence has one independent
clause and one or more dependent clauses.
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials
on it.
2. A spider is not an insect; it is an
arachnid.
III. Complex Sentence
A. A complex sentence has one independent
clause and one or more dependent clauses.
B. The dependent clause can be at the
beginning, middle, or end of the sentence.
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials on
it.
2. A spider is not an insect; it is an arachnid.
III. Complex Sentence
A. A complex sentence has one independent
clause and one or more dependent clauses.
B. The dependent clause can be at the beginning,
middle, or end of the sentence.
1. Before Amy planted the garden, she
made a sketch of the layout.
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials on
it.
2. A spider is not an insect; it is an arachnid.
III. Complex Sentence
A. A complex sentence has one independent
clause and one or more dependent clauses.
B. The dependent clause can be at the beginning,
middle, or end of the sentence.
1. Before Amy planted the garden, she
made a sketch of the layout.
Dependent: Before Amy planted the garden
G. Examples:
1. The blue one is mine; it has my initials on
it.
2. A spider is not an insect; it is an arachnid.
III. Complex Sentence
A. A complex sentence has one independent
clause and one or more dependent clauses.
B. The dependent clause can be at the beginning,
middle, or end of the sentence.
1. Before Amy planted the garden, she
made a sketch of the layout.
Dependent: Before Amy planted the garden
Independent: she made a sketch of the
layout.
2. When bees collect pollen, they
pollinate the plants they visit.
2. When bees collect pollen, they
pollinate the plants they visit.
Dependent: When bees collect pollen
2. When bees collect pollen, they
pollinate the plants they visit.
Dependent: When bees collect pollen
Independent: they pollinate the plants
Dependent: they visit.
2. When bees collect pollen, they
pollinate the plants they visit.
Dependent: When bees collect pollen
Independent: they pollinate the plants
they visit.
IV. Compound-Complex Sentences
A. A sentence with two or more independent
clauses and at least one dependent clause is a
compound-complex sentence.
B. Examples:
1. I picked up the branches that had
fallen during the storm, and Rosa
mowed the grass.
B. Examples:
1. I picked up the branches that had
fallen during the storm, and Rosa
mowed the grass.
Independent: I picked up the branches
B. Examples:
1. I picked up the branches that had
fallen during the storm, and Rosa
mowed the grass.
Independent: I picked up the branches
Dependent: that had fallen during the
storm
B. Examples:
1. I picked up the branches that had
fallen during the storm, and Rosa
mowed the grass.
Independent: I picked up the branches
Dependent: that had fallen during the
storm
Independent: Rosa mowed the grass
Connecting: , and
Practice! Identify each of the sentences as simple,
complex, compound, or compound-complex.
1. Cuba’s capitol is Havana, and this beautiful city has
been the center of Cuban culture since 1552.
2. The heavy branches of the oak tree hung over our table
and shaded us from the sun.
3. Because opinions are still divided, further discussion is
needed.
4. The clock’s minute hand stopped working, but the
second hand still moves.
5. Seashells filled her suitcase and spilled onto the floor.
Practice! Identify each of the sentences as
independent, complex, compound, or compoundcomplex.
1. Cuba’s capitol is Havana, and this beautiful city has
been the center of Cuban culture since 1552.
(Compound)
2. The heavy branches of the oak tree hung over our table
and shaded us from the sun.
3. Because opinions are still divided, further discussion is
needed.
4. The clock’s minute hand stopped working, but the
second hand still moves.
5. Seashells filled her suitcase and spilled onto the floor.
Practice! Identify each of the sentences as
independent, complex, compound, or compoundcomplex.
1. Cuba’s capitol is Havana, and this beautiful city has
been the center of Cuban culture since 1552.
2. The heavy branches of the oak tree hung over our table
and shaded us from the sun. (Simple)
3. Because opinions are still divided, further discussion is
needed.
4. The clock’s minute hand stopped working, but the
second hand still moves.
5. Seashells filled her suitcase and spilled onto the floor.
Practice! Identify each of the sentences as
independent, complex, compound, or compoundcomplex.
1. Cuba’s capitol is Havana, and this beautiful city has
been the center of Cuban culture since 1552.
2. The heavy branches of the oak tree hung over our table
and shaded us from the sun.
3. Because opinions are still divided, further discussion is
needed. (Complex)
4. The clock’s minute hand stopped working, but the
second hand still moves.
5. Seashells filled her suitcase and spilled onto the floor.
Practice! Identify each of the sentences as
independent, complex, compound, or compoundcomplex.
1. Cuba’s capitol is Havana, and this beautiful city has
been the center of Cuban culture since 1552.
2. The heavy branches of the oak tree hung over our table
and shaded us from the sun.
3. Because opinions are still divided, further discussion is
needed.
4. The clock’s minute hand stopped working, but the
second hand still moves. (Compound)
5. Seashells filled her suitcase and spilled onto the floor.
Practice! Identify each of the sentences as
independent, complex, compound, or compoundcomplex.
1. Cuba’s capitol is Havana, and this beautiful city has
been the center of Cuban culture since 1552.
2. The heavy branches of the oak tree hung over our table
and shaded us from the sun.
3. Because opinions are still divided, further discussion is
needed.
4. The clock’s minute hand stopped working, but the
second hand still moves.
5. Seashells filled her suitcase and spilled onto the floor.
(Simple)