Sentence TypesSentence Types

A guideA guide

4 Sentence Types4 Sentence Types

I. SimpleI. Simple

II. ComplexII. Complex

III. CompoundIII. Compound

IV. Compound-ComplexIV. Compound-Complex

I. Simple SentenceI. Simple SentenceSimple subjectSimple subject

One ClauseOne Clause This clause has one subject (can be This clause has one subject (can be

simple or compound)simple or compound)

Example: Example: My uncleMy uncle works for works for Microsoft.Microsoft.

My uncleMy uncle is a simple subject. is a simple subject.

I. Simple SentenceI. Simple SentenceCompound subjectCompound subject

One ClauseOne Clause This clause has one subject (can be This clause has one subject (can be

simple or compound)simple or compound)

Example: Example: My uncleMy uncle and auntand aunt work for work for Microsoft.Microsoft.

My uncle and auntMy uncle and aunt is a compound is a compound subject. subject.

I. Simple SentenceI. Simple Sentencesingle verbsingle verb

One ClauseOne Clause This clause has one main verb (Can This clause has one main verb (Can

be single or compoundbe single or compound

Example:Example: My uncle My uncle worksworks for Microsoft. for Microsoft.

worksworks is a single main verb. is a single main verb.

I. Simple SentenceI. Simple Sentencecompound verbcompound verb

One ClauseOne Clause This clause has one main verb (Can This clause has one main verb (Can

be single or compound)be single or compound)

Example:Example: My uncle My uncle worksworks and and playsplays softball for Microsoft.softball for Microsoft.

Works and playsWorks and plays is a compound main is a compound main verb. verb.

Check your understandingCheck your understandingof Simple Sentenceof Simple Sentence

Read each of these sentences and find the subjects and main Read each of these sentences and find the subjects and main verbs. Tell your teacher or another student where the verbs. Tell your teacher or another student where the subjects and verbs are.subjects and verbs are.

1.1. A quiz will be given next A quiz will be given next Wednesday.Wednesday.

2.2. Interestingly, our textbook has this Interestingly, our textbook has this information in the back.information in the back.

3.3. His only regret is not finishing high His only regret is not finishing high school.school.

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex Sentence

Two Clauses (at least)Two Clauses (at least) One clause is One clause is dependentdependent and One clause is One clause is independentindependent

Example: Example: Because the electricity went Because the electricity went outout,, the school closed early.the school closed early.

Dependent

Independent

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceDependent ClauseDependent Clause

A dependent clause A dependent clause has a subject and a has a subject and a verb but….verb but….

A dependent clause A dependent clause cannot stand alonecannot stand alone as a sentence.as a sentence.

It starts with a It starts with a dependent word.dependent word.

BecauseBecause IfIf WhenWhen

BeforeBefore AlthoughAlthough AfterAfter

ThoughThough Even Even thoughthough

WheneverWhenever

AsAs LikeLike

Examples:

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceDependent ClauseDependent Clause

Examples of dependent clauses:Examples of dependent clauses: If I can meet all of my goals for this class,If I can meet all of my goals for this class,

…..….. …………when she walked out of the room.when she walked out of the room. ……..because these two diets are so ..because these two diets are so

different.different. Before she was an actress,….Before she was an actress,….

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceDependent ClauseDependent Clause

Dependent clauses can be at the Dependent clauses can be at the beginning or the end of the sentence.beginning or the end of the sentence.

Example:Example:Because the electricity went out,Because the electricity went out, the the

school closed early.school closed early.OrOr

The school closed early The school closed early because the because the electricity went out.electricity went out.

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceDependent ClauseDependent Clause

Look back at the last Look back at the last slide.slide.

What difference do What difference do you see in you see in punctuation punctuation between the two between the two sentences?sentences?

Discuss with a Discuss with a classmate.classmate.

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceDependent ClauseDependent Clause

Because the electricity went out,Because the electricity went out, the the school closed early.school closed early.

OrOr

The school closed early The school closed early because the because the electricity went out.electricity went out.

Comma

No comma!

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceFragmentsFragments

Remember: A dependent clause Remember: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence!cannot stand alone as a sentence!

A dependent clause standing alone is A dependent clause standing alone is a FRAGMENT.a FRAGMENT.

Example: Because the electricity went Example: Because the electricity went out. (what happened?)out. (what happened?)

OrOrThe school closed early. Because the The school closed early. Because the

electricity went out.electricity went out.This period creates a fragment.

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceFragmentsFragments

More fragment examples:More fragment examples:

If this is your final semester at MPC. If this is your final semester at MPC. You should see your counselor.You should see your counselor.

Please find out what we did in class. Please find out what we did in class. When you are absent.When you are absent.

These periods create fragments.

II. Complex SentenceII. Complex SentenceDependent ClauseDependent Clause

How do you think you can fix How do you think you can fix a fragment?a fragment?

Discuss with classmates……..Discuss with classmates……..

??

Compare Simple and Complex Compare Simple and Complex SentencesSentences

Simple: Simple: The schoolThe school closedclosed early. early.

((one subjectone subject and one verb) and one verb)

Complex: Because Complex: Because the electricitythe electricity went went outout, the , the schoolschool closedclosed early. early.

((two subjectstwo subjects and two main verbs) and two main verbs)

III.Compound SentenceIII.Compound Sentence

A Compound Sentence is just two A Compound Sentence is just two simple sentences joined.simple sentences joined.

Example: The school closed early.Example: The school closed early.

We went home.We went home.

The school closed earlyThe school closed early, so, so we went we went home.home.

III. Compound SentenceIII. Compound Sentence

Two simple sentences = two independent Two simple sentences = two independent clauses.clauses.

The two clauses must be joined withThe two clauses must be joined with1)1) A commaA comma2)2) A FANBOYSA FANBOYS

FANBOYSFANBOYS

WHAT IS A WHAT IS A FANBOYSFANBOYS????????FFororAAndndNNororBBututOOrrYYetetSSoo

Compound SentenceCompound Sentence

When you have two independent When you have two independent clauses (=two simple sentences) and clauses (=two simple sentences) and you are joining them, you must use a you are joining them, you must use a comma and a FANBOYS.comma and a FANBOYS.

The “official name” for FANBOYS is The “official name” for FANBOYS is

Coordinating ConjunctionCoordinating Conjunction

III. Compound SentenceIII. Compound Sentence

Examples:Examples:

My uncle works for MicrosoftMy uncle works for Microsoft, and, and he he plays softball on the Microsoft team.plays softball on the Microsoft team.

Sentence 1

Sentence 2

Comma + FANBOYS

III. Compound Sentence:III. Compound Sentence:Run ons and Comma SplicesRun ons and Comma Splices

When joining two independent When joining two independent clauses, you MUST add a comma clauses, you MUST add a comma AND a FANBOYS.AND a FANBOYS.

IF you add nothing, this creates an IF you add nothing, this creates an error called a “run on”.error called a “run on”.

My uncle works for Microsoft he plays My uncle works for Microsoft he plays softball on the Microsoft team.softball on the Microsoft team.

III. Compound Sentence:III. Compound Sentence:Run ons and Comma SplicesRun ons and Comma Splices

When joining two independent When joining two independent clauses, you MUST add a comma clauses, you MUST add a comma AND a FANBOYS.AND a FANBOYS.

If you do not add a FANBOYS, this If you do not add a FANBOYS, this error is called a “Comma splice”.error is called a “Comma splice”.

My uncle works for Microsoft, he plays My uncle works for Microsoft, he plays softball on the Microsoft team.softball on the Microsoft team.

III. Compound Sentence:III. Compound Sentence:Run ons and Comma SplicesRun ons and Comma Splices

Are the following sentences 1) run ons? Are the following sentences 1) run ons? 2)comma splices? or 3) okay?2)comma splices? or 3) okay?

1)1) The school closed early, so we went The school closed early, so we went home.home.

2)2) Intelligent people are often not well Intelligent people are often not well organized they cannot keep a schedule.organized they cannot keep a schedule.

3)3) He has been a member since 1999, he He has been a member since 1999, he has also served as president.has also served as president.

Compare complex and compound Compare complex and compound sentencessentences

Complex:Complex:

IfIf you are coming to school you are coming to school,, can you can you give me a ride?give me a ride?

He was coming to schoolHe was coming to school, so, so he gave he gave me a ride.me a ride.

Dependent Independent

Independent Independent

IV. Compound-Complex SentencesIV. Compound-Complex Sentences

This sentence type is just a combination of This sentence type is just a combination of the two above types.the two above types.

Remember: Remember:

Sentence TypeSentence Type Clause TypeClause Type

Complex =Complex = One dependent and one One dependent and one independent clauseindependent clause

Compound =Compound = Two independent clausesTwo independent clauses

IV. Compound-Complex SentencesIV. Compound-Complex Sentences

So….. A compound-complex sentence So….. A compound-complex sentence has at leasthas at least

1 dependent clause1 dependent clause and and two two independent clauses.independent clauses.

Example: Example: If you are coming to school,If you are coming to school, can you give me a ride, so I won’t be can you give me a ride, so I won’t be late?late?

Finally….Finally….

Review the punctuation (comma use) Review the punctuation (comma use) that is part of each sentence type.that is part of each sentence type.

Review what a fragment, a run on Review what a fragment, a run on and a comma splice is.and a comma splice is.

Practice writing one sentence of each Practice writing one sentence of each type. Check your sentences with type. Check your sentences with your teacher.your teacher.