#1 Simple Sentence
John drank a Pepsi.
Alfred bought a diamond ring for his
lovely wife Anne.
Both of the sentences are simple sentences
because they each only have one clause.
The second may have more adjectives and
adverbs, but it is still a simple sentence.
#2 Compound Sentence
A compound sentence uses one of the seven
coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for,
nor, so, yet) and connects two complete
simple sentences.
Each half of the sentence is equally
important to the meaning of the sentence.
The coordinating conjunction must be
preceded by a comma.
The seven coordinating conjunctions are
also known as FANBOYS words. If these
words are written out, the first letter of each
one spells FANBOYS.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
John drank a Pepsi, and he enjoyed it.
This is a compound sentence because it has
a complete sentence on both sides of the
coordinating conjunction, the sentences
make sense together, and the coordinating
conjunction makes sense with the sentences.
John drank a Pepsi, or he enjoyed it.
John drank a Pepsi, nor he enjoyed it.
These are examples of faulty coordination
since the coordinating conjunction does not
make sense with the sentences it is
connecting.
John drank a Pepsi, so computers hate people who
have poor usage skills.
This is another example of faulty
coordination because these two sentences
don’t make any logical sense together.
#3 Complex Sentence
Complex sentences consist of a subordinate clause
and an independent clause.
The independent clause is the important part of the
sentence. The subordinate clause is only additional
information.
A comma separates the subordinate clause from the
independent clause when the subordinate clause
precedes the independent clause.
HUH???
Clauses can provide more information in a sentence.
Look at this sentence:
The children started talking.
Here is another piece of information that could go
in the sentence:
They started talking when the teacher went out.
The sentence can be reworked to include that
piece of information.
Independent clause...
The children started talking
when the teacher went out.
… then subordinate clause
Subordinate clause
When the teacher went out,
the children started talking.
… then independent clause
Look at this sentence:
Billy wanted to go on vacation.
Here is another piece of information that
could go in the sentence:
He wanted to go because he was
fed up with the winter weather.
The sentence can be reworked to include
that piece of information.
Independent clause...
Billy wanted to go on vacation
because he was fed up with the
winter weather.
… then subordinate clause
Subordinate clause
Because he was fed up with the
winter weather,
Billy wanted to go on vacation.
… then independent clause
independent clause
John drank a Pepsi.
subordinate clause
Because John drank a Pepsi.
Dependent clauses are created by placing
either a subordinating word or a relative
pronoun in front of a sentence.
Common subordinating words include:
as
because
If
after
since provided
before
where
unless whether
whileonce
when although
so that
until
though whenever
than
as if
Common relative pronouns include:
which what
who
that
whom whatever
whoever
Because John drank a Pepsi.
This is a subordinate clause because it
doesn’t express a complete thought and
must rely upon an independent clause to
give it meaning.
Because John drank a Pepsi,
what happened?
subordinate clause
independent clause
Because John drank a Pepsi, he was no longer thirsty.
When the dependent clause comes first,
separate the clauses with a comma.
Independent clause
subordinate clause
He was no longer thirsty because John drank a Pepsi.
When the independent clause comes first,
no comma is necessary.