Sentence Types
Notes and Flashcards
Sentence Types
A sentence may be simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. It all depends on the relationship between
independent and dependent clauses.
A simple sentence may have a singe subject or a compound subject. It may have a single predicate or a compound
predicate. But a simple sentence may have ONLY one independent clause, and it may have NO dependent clauses.
My back aches.
My teeth and my eyes hurt.
My throat and nose feel sore and look red.
A compound sentence consists of TWO OR MORE independent clauses and NO dependent clauses. The clauses must
be joined by a semicolon, by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or by a semicolon/conjunctive adverb/comma
combination.
I usually don’t mind going to school, but this isn’t fun.
I feel too sick to watch TV; I feel too sick to eat.
I don’t want to miss going to the zoo; however, I don’t want to finish eating either.
A complex sentence consists of ONE independent clause and ONE OR MORE dependent clauses.
When I get back to school, I’m actually going to appreciate it.
I won’t even complain about classes although I might be talking out of my head because I’m feverish.
A compound-complex sentence contains TWO OR MORE independent clauses and ONE OR MORE dependent clauses.
Yes, I have a bad flu, and because I need to get well soon, I won’t think about school just yet.
I need to do my homework; however, I am quite ill because I have contracted the flu.
Coordinating conjunctions
• Coordinating conjunctions are conjunctions
that join sentence elements that are the
same. They can join words, phrases, and
clauses.
• When coordinating conjunctions are used to
join main clauses, a comma is placed before
the coordinating conjunction.
• This creates a compound sentence (more than
one independent clause.
List of coordinating conjunctions
Write each of the coordinating conjunctions on
a separate card in blue.
And
But
Or
For
Nor
So
Yet
Correlative conjunctions
• Correlative conjunctions do the same thing
that coordinating conjunctions do except that
they are always used in pairs.
List of correlative conjunctions
• Write each of the words in the pairs of
correlative conjunctions on a separate card in
blue.
Both…and
Just as…so
Either…or
Whether…or
Not only…but (also)
Neither…nor
Conjunctive adverbs
• The conjunctive adverb may look like a
coordinate conjunction (and, or, so, but, for),
but it is not as strong as a coordinate
conjunction. Therefore, the semicolon is used
to link the two main clauses, and the comma
is used to set off the conjunctive adverb
(really a one-word adverb cluster) from its
main clause.
List of conjunctive adverbs
• Write each of the conjunctive adverbs on a
separate card in green.
Also
However
Consequently
Thus
Similarly
Besides
Nevertheless
Therefore
Equally
Moreover
Furthermore
Still
Likewise
Meanwhile
Otherwise
Subordinating conjunctions
• Subordinating conjunctions are conjunctions
that join dependent clauses to independent
clauses.
• There are many subordinating conjunctions,
so keep in mind that this list does not include
all of them!
• Commas must be used if the clause using the
subordinating conjunction (adverb clause)
comes before the main clause, but are not
used if it comes after the main clause.
List of subordinating conjunctions
• Write each of the subordinating conjunctions
on a separate card in red.
After
Although
As
As far as
As if
As long as
As soon as
As though
Because
Before
Considering (that)
If
Inasmuch as
In order that
Provided that
Since
So long as
So that
Than
Though
Unless
Until
When
Whenever
Where
Whereas
Wherever
While
Relative pronouns
• Relative pronouns are used to introduce noun
and adjective clauses in sentences.
• They often work as the subject of the clause
they introduce.
• When relative clauses are non-essential, a
comma is placed between the relative clause
and the independent clause.
List of relative pronouns
• Write each of the relative pronouns on a
separate card in orange.
Who
Whom
Whose
What
Whomever
Whichever
That
Which
Whoever
Whatever
Independent clauses
• Write an independent clause on each of the
remaining cards (longer strips) in black.
• Remember a clause must have a subject and a
verb.
List of independent clauses…
• Just to get you started…
The bell rang
I fed the dog
We did our homework
I wanted a pet
I got my favorite animal
I needed a haircut
I asked my parents