There are 3 different types of sentences.
SIMPLE SENTENCES
COMPOUND SENTENCES
COMPLEX SENTENCES
What is a Simple Sentence?
A Simple Sentence consists of ONE SINGLE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
EXAMPLE
The dog ran across the field.
You can tell this is one clause because there is only one subject and one verb.
Subject = Dog Verb = Ran
However, sometimes there can be compound subjects and compound predicates.
EXAMPLE
Bob and Dave ran across the field.
Subject = Bob / Dave Verb = Ran
This is still a Simple Sentence.
EXAMPLE
The dog ran to the fence and jumped over it.
Subject = Dog Verb = Ran / Jumped
This is still a Simple Sentence.
Sometimes there can even be a Compound Subject and Compound Predicate.
EXAMPLE
Bob and Dave ran to the fence and jumped over it.
Subject = Bob / Dave Verb = Ran / Jumped
This is still a Simple Sentence.
So, what is a Compound Sentence?
A Compound Sentence is a sentence with TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES combined using a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION or a SEMI-COLON.
The turtle crawled slowly, but the rabbit hopped quickly.
See, two Independent Clauses (complete sentences) are combined using the Coordinating Conjunction, “But“.
What are the Coordinating Conjunctions?
Remember the FANBOYS acronym
For – And – Nor – But – Or – Yet – So
Another way to join two Independent Clauses in order to make a Compound Sentence is to use a Semi-Colon.
So, instead of using a Coordinating Conjunction, use a Semi-Colon.
EXAMPLE
The turtle crawled slowly; the rabbit hopped quickly.
It is the same sentence using a Semi-Colon instead of a Coordinating Conjunction.
MORE EXAMPLES
He finally told the truth, for he could not bear the guilt.
She brought the cake, and he brought the ice cream.
The yodeler fell from the mountain; he was hospitalized for three weeks.
** A COMPOUND SENTENCES MUST HAVE EITHER A COORDINATING CONJUNCTION or A SEMI-COLON.
** A COMPOUND SENTENCE CANNOT HAVE A DEPENDENT CLAUSE IN IT.
What is a Complex Sentence?
A Complex Sentence is a sentence with at least one Independent Clause and at least one Dependent Clause.
EXAMPLE
Whenever she was tardy, the teacher became angry.
See, in the example above, there is a Dependent Clause and an Independent Clause attached.
This makes a Complex Sentence!
Remember that the Clauses can be switched.
EXAMPLE
The teacher became angry whenever she was tardy.
This is still a Complex Sentence.
A Complex Sentence MUST HAVE a Subordinating Conjunction.
What is a Subordinating Conjunction?
A Subordinating Conjunction is a word that connects the Dependent Clause to the Independent Clause.
There are many of them.
| after | since | when |
| although | so that | whenever |
| as | supposing | where |
| because | than | whereas |
| before | that | wherever |
| but that | though | whether |
| if | though | which |
| in order that | till | while |
| lest | unless | who |
| no matter | until | why |
| how | what | even though |
These words must be at the beginning of the Dependent Clause
EXAMPLE
After he ate the rotten cabbage, he spent three hours in the bathroom.
The word is blue is the Subordinating Conjunction which ALWAYS appears at the beginning of the Dependent Clause.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
He spent three hours in the bathroom after he ate the rotten cabbage.
See, no matter where it is in the sentence, it leads the Dependent Clause.
** A COMPLEX SENTENCE MUST CONTAIN A SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION
