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Chapter 9.4 Sentence Types

Sentence Types

Different types of candy

Just as there are different types of candy, there are different types of sentences, the three most common being: simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences.

 

 

Using various types of sentences throughout your writing creates sentence variety, which is more engaging for a reader to read.

 

 

The Simple Sentence has only one subject-verb combination and expresses one complete thought (independent clause).

Examples

Subject highlighted yellow; verb in italics

  • The cat slept on the couch.
  • Lemons and limes taste sharp and tangy. (compound subjects)
  • The puppies nipped and nuzzled one another playfully. (compound verbs)

 

The Compound Sentence is made up of two or more complete thoughts (independent clauses).

The most common way to create compound sentences is using a comma (,) and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So).

The parts of a compound sentence: Complete thought, FANBOYS second complete thought.

Examples

Subject highlighted yellow; verb in italics

  • The restaurant serves lunch, and there is music on weekends.
  • The food is delicious, but it isn’t expensive.
  • The food is healthy, for they use fresh ingredients.
  • They don’t serve wine, nor do they serve beer.
  • You can eat in the restaurant, or you can take food home.
  • They don’t accept credit cards, so you must take cash.
  • The restaurant is small, yet it is well known.

Another way to create a compound sentence is to use a semicolon (;) or a semicolon (;) and a transition word (common transition words: therefore, additionally, furthermore, however).

Examples

Subject highlighted yellow; verb in italics

  • They don’t serve wine; they also don’t serve beer.
  • They don’t accept credit cards; you must take cash.
  • The restaurant serves lunch; additionally, there is music on weekends.
  • The food is delicious; however, it isn’t expensive.

 

The Complex Sentence includes one complete thought (independent clause) and at least one dependent statement, which cannot stand alone.

The dependent statement includes a subordinating conjunction (also called a dependent word).

Common subordinating conjunctions (dependent words): because, after, although, as, since, when, while, if, etc.

Example

Subject highlighted yellow; verb in italics

  • Because she didn’t put on sunblock, she got a sunburn. (The word “because” begins an incomplete thought; that part of the sentence cannot stand on its own (it’s a fragment)).
  • She got a sunburn because she didn’t put on sunblock. (The word “because” begins an incomplete thought; that part of the sentence cannot stand on its own (it’s a fragment)).

Exercise 9.4.1

On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the sentences by changing the simple sentences into compound or complex sentences.

Create five compound sentences and five complex sentences. Make sure to use correct punctuation.

    1. Jamal and Hope go to the store. They buy many groceries.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. The dog ran away from home. We went to look for her.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. A large, colorful bird appeared. Samantha and I were walking near the lake.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. Tomás built a telescope. He could see the stars.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. The weather gets warm in spring. Auntie Lorraine grows tomatoes.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. A skunk ran toward us. We ran the other way.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. There are fireworks in the neighborhood. Our dog hides under the bed.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. Mia likes to run track. She does not enjoy weight training.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. That house looks haunted. Jada refuses to trick-or-treat there.

    _______________________________________________________________

    1. The neighbor had dinner. They went dancing.

    _______________________________________________________________

 

 

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Types of Sentences is from Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL). This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International License.

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Introduction to Composition Copyright © by Shelley Decker; Mary Kieser; Heather Moulton; and Peter Shipman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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