Sentence Types
Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex
Simple Sentence - has one independent clause consisting of one subject and one predicate, either of which may be compound.
Compound Sentence – has two or more independent clauses. The clauses may be joined by a co-ordinate conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) preceded by a comma, or by a semi-colon without a conjunction.
IND. clause C IND. clause
e.g., I like all sports, but swimming is my favourite.
IND. clause C IND. clause The ball went out of the park, and everyone rose to cheer. IND. clause IND. clause
Vacation is over; we shall soon return to school.
Complex Sentence – has one independent clause and one or more
one idea in a sentence is more important than another. Common starting words for Dependent (or Subordinate) clauses are:
after since because while although until unless before as (as if) if
so that
even (even though, even if) who (whoever) which (whichever) whom that what when (whenever) where (wherever)
The dependent clause is set off by a comma when it precedes the main clause. DEP. clause IND. clause
e.g., Although I like every sport, I enjoy golf most of all. IND. clause DEP. clause
I will see you before you leave.
IND. clause DEP. clause The doctor recognised the man who entered his office DEP. clause IND. clause
Since you started the job, why not finish it?
Compound - Complex Sentence – has the characteristics of both the
compound and the complex sentence. It has two or more independent clauses plus one or more dependent clauses.
DEP. clause IND. clause IND. clause e.g., When I got home, the back door was open and the dog had gone. IND. clause DEP. clause IND. clause I missed the bus as my alarm clock did not go off and I overslept. IND. clause IND. clause IND. clause DEP. clause
droned on and on.
Label clauses, underline independent clauses once and dependent clauses twice, and indicate whether the sentence is SIMPLE (S), COMPOUND (CO), COMPLEX (CX), or COMPOUND-COMPLEX (CC).
_____ 1. Vancouver is beautiful, and I would really like to live there. _____ 2. Most of us already had our reservations.
_____ 3. Insurance companies charge higher rates for teen-age drivers because they lack experience.
_____ 4. Although they had no system of money, they bartered for many things. _____ 5. He planned to win the contest by practising the piano for six hours
every day.
_____ 6. When the postman called, John was out, but he collected the parcel later.
_____ 7. Emily was fond of carrots, but George preferred cabbage. _____ 8. Tom read, Alex watched television, and Paul did his homework. _____ 9. The myths that surround Macdonald are many.
_____ 10. The girl who was here is called Annabelle. _____ 11. The men painted and papered all day.
_____ 12. Jim is always tired after a training session, but all athletes who want to succeed must practise long hours.
_____ 13. Marie and Carol have gone swimming at the old fishing hole near the mill.
_____ 14. Robin’s mother brought him some ice cream, but he was feeling ill as he had eaten some unripe gooseberries.
_____ 15. I left home early, but because there was so much traffic, I was still late for work, and my boss was angry.
_____ 16. Since he had performed so successfully, Vancouver gave him a hero’s welcome.
_____ 18. Jack, Paul, George, and Simon went to the ballgame.
_____ 19. Everyone laughed, but Adam didn’t think the joke was funny.
_____ 20. I would have been happier and I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much, if the pay had not been so poor and if the hours had not been so long.
ANSWER KEY (DEP clauses shown in italics.)
CO 1. IND. IND.
Vancouver is beautiful, and I would really like to live there.
S 2. Most of us already had our reservations.
CX 3. IND.
Insurance companies charge higher rates for teen-age drivers because
DEP.
they lack experience.
CX 4. DEP. IND.
Although they had no system of money, they bartered for many things.
S 5. He planned to win the contest by practising the piano for six hours every day.
CC 6. DEP. IND. IND.
When the postman called, John was out, but he collected the parcel
CO 7. IND. IND.
Emily was fond of carrots, but George preferred cabbage.
CO 8. IND. IND. IND.
Tom read, Alex watched television, and Paul did his homework.
CX 9. IND. DEP.
The myths that surround Macdonald are many.
CX 10. DEP. IND.
The girl who was here is called Annabelle.
S 11. The men painted and papered all day.
CC 12. IND. DEP. Jim is always tired after a training session, but all athletes who want to
IND.
succeed must practise long hours.
S 13. Marie and Carol have gone swimming at the old fishing hole near the mill.
CC 14. IND. IND.
Robin’s mother brought him some ice cream, but he was feeling ill as DEP.
he had eaten some unripe gooseberries.
I left home early, but because there was so much traffic, I was still late IND.
for work, and my boss was angry.
CX 16. DEP. IND.
Since he had performed so successfully, Vancouver gave him a hero’s
welcome.
CO 17. IND. IND. Helga likes elephants but I don’t.
S 18. Jack, Paul, George, and Simon went to the ballgame.
CO 19. IND. IND.
Everyone laughed, but Adam didn’t think the joke was funny.
CC 20. IND. IND.
I would have been happier and I would not have minded the difficulty of
DEP. DEP. the work so much, if the pay had not been so poor and if the hours had
