Sentence Types and Punctuation

Miss Dana Aicha Shaaban Section Head of Writing Support

Writing Lab Student Learning Support Center

• Sentences • Punctuation • Appendix (Worksheet)

Four Types of Sentences

• 1. Simple Sentence

• 2. Compound Sentence

• 3. Complex Sentence

• 4. Compound-Complex Sentence

Recap on Clauses • Independent Clause: A group of words containing a

subject and a verb that can stand alone and make sense.

• Example: 1. I have a passion for all kinds of chocolates and biscuits. 2. My favorite dessert is chocolate chip cookies! • Dependent Clause: A group of words with a subject and

a verb that “depends” on the main clause to give it meaning.

• Example: 1. Since the library was full of students. 2. When they arrived at their destination.

Simple Sentence • A sentence with one independent clause, and no

dependent clauses. • Examples:

1. I really enjoyed going to the movies with you.

2. She travelled to Dubai last weekend.

3. Farah is thinking of buying a kitten.

Compound Sentence • A sentence with multiple independent clauses but no

dependent clauses.

• Examples:

1. She called the restaurant to reserve for dinner, but it was fully booked.

2. The clown frightened the little girl; she ran off screaming.

3. He got his umbrella, but it didn’t rain.

Complex Sentence • A sentence with one independent clause and at

least one dependent clause.

• Examples: 1. After Maryam counted her money, she realized she

was missing 100 QR. 2. The students are studying because they have a

test tomorrow. 3. Sara, who is very tall, got accepted to be part of

the basketball team.

Compound-Complex Sentence

• A sentence with multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• Examples: 1. I don’t like dogs, and my sister doesn’t like cats

because they make her sneeze. 2. While I was doing my homework, my mother

cooked dinner and my father was asleep in front of the television.

3. My family came to Germany when I was in grade 5, but I never learned to speak German very well.

In-Class Practice Exercises

Exercises • IDENTIFY THE SENTENCE TYPE:

1. Although it started to rain, we decided to continue our walk. 2. There were books on the floor, under the table, and all about the room. 3. She was going to school full-time and hoped to graduate in June. 4. Marie, Bill and I stayed up until four in the morning. 5. Unless conditions change for her, she will spend the rest of her life working for

minimum wage in a dusty mill; there are thousands of women like her. 6. She wanted to go, but her child was sick. 7. Joe is smart; he will succeed in life. 8. As soon as Rami started a coin collection, his brother bought an album of

rare stamps. 9. Nature is her passion in life, and colleagues say she thinks of nothing else. 10. Although it was cold, and the rain was getting heavier, we decided to go

fishing as planned.

Answers 1. Complex 2. Simple 3. Simple 4. Simple 5. Compound-complex 6. Compound 7. Compound 8. Complex 9. Compound 10. Compound-complex

Punctuation • We will focus on 7 punctuation marks in this

presentation: 1. Full stop/period 2. Semicolon 3. Colon 4. Comma 5. Quotation Marks 6. Apostrophe 7. Ellipsis

Full Stop/ Period • Creates an interruption that marks the end of a

sentence • Used in abbreviations • There is no space between the last letter and the

period. • Leave 1-2 spaces after the period when starting

your next sentence. • Examples: 1. I took my sister to the dance school yesterday. 2. My good friend lives in Washington D.C.

Semicolon • Used to separate sentences that are grammatically

independent but that have a closely connected meaning

• Examples: 1. He did his best; now let’s hope he passes the

exam. 2. Maryam wants to go out; Mona wants to stay at

home. 3. Sara is a good speaker; she speaks very clearly.

Colon • Used to introduce a long quotation • Used to introduce lists • Used to introduce subtitles in books/articles • Examples: 1. The acting director often used her favorite quotation

from Shakespeare's Tempest: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

2. The price includes the following: travel to London, flight to Venice, hotel accommodation, and excursions.

3. The other day, I read “Acoustics: The Science of Sound.”

Comma • Creates a small interruption within a sentence to help

clarify meaning • Used between items in a list • Used before a quotation mark • Used before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) • Examples: 1. Sheikha, who wasn’t a business major, decided to open a

coffee shop. 2. She told me to bring sandwiches, drinks, and cake. 3. He said, “Wait till your brother gets home so that you can

go to the movies together.” 4. I love playing sports, but I find myself demotivated at

times.

Quotation Marks • Used around text you are quoting or citing, usually

from another source • Used around dialogue or direct speech • Examples: • In The Cambridge Encyclopedia of The English

Language, David Crystal argues that punctuation "plays a critical role in the modern writing system."

• James opened the door and stepped onto the balcony, followed by Mary. They stood in silence for a few moments, looking at the moon. Then Mary turned to him and said, “The moon is so beautiful tonight, isn’t it James?"

Apostrophe • Used to create possessive forms • Used for contractions

• Examples: • My friend’s mother bought her a nice dress. • These people’s lives were ruined by the hurricane. • I can’t wait to watch the new Disney animation! • Don’t move! There’s a spider on your arm!

Ellipses • Consists of three dots • Used to show unimportant words have been missed from

a quotation • Sometimes used to indicate a pause when someone is

speaking, or an unfinished sentence. • Examples: 1. The film focused on three English learners from Asia who

were studying at university." Perhaps we want to omit "from Asia who were" to save space. So we write: "The film focused on three English learners...studying at university.“

2. "It's not easy to explain. It's not..." Her voice trailed away as emotion welled up within her.

In-Class Practice Exercises

Exercise • The continuing care retirement community (CCRC)

has become one alternative to the impending increase in our elderly population according to Estella Espinoza Professor of Gerontology at the University of Connecticut. Nursing homes are no longer the answer to this social need she said their simply to costly for todays senior-citizens she added.

• CCRCs normally require a tremendous down payment to buy into a living unit then they require a considerable monthly "maintenance fee." this large initial investment together with the continuing high price of so-called maintenance means that many Americans will be excluded from the CCRC of their choice. “Its a shame that getting old has to be so expensive" said Espinoza there are three things involved here affordability convenience and human dignity

Answer • The Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

has become one alternative to the impending increase in our elderly population, according to Estella Espinoza, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Connecticut. "Nursing homes are no longer the answer to this social need," she said. "They're simply too costly for today's senior citizens," she added.

• CCRCs normally require a tremendous down-payment to buy into a living unit, and then they require a considerable monthly maintenance fee. This large initial investment, together with the continuing high price of so-called maintenance, means that many Americans will be excluded from the CCRC of their choice. "It's a shame that getting old has to be so expensive," said Espinoza. "There are three things involved here: affordability, convenience, and human dignity."

Sources • https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/573/02

/ • http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/mark

s/period.htm • http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/english/reading/

sentences/revision/5/ • https://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/transitions/ • http://www.oupcanada.com/higher_education/co

mpanion/literature/9780195425154/eng_135/quiz_transitions.html

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Sentence Types and Punctuation Exercises

Directions: Identify the sentence type

1. ________________ Although it started to rain, we decided to continue our walk.

2. ________________ There were books on the floor, under the table, and all about the room.

3. ________________ She was going to school full-time and hoped to graduate in June.

4. ________________ Marie and Bill and I stayed up until four in the morning.

5. ________________ Unless conditions change for her, she will spend the rest of her life working for minimum wage in a dusty mill; there are thousands of women like her.

6. ________________ She wanted to go, but her child was sick.

7. ________________ Joe is smart; he will succeed in life.

8. ________________ As soon as Rami started a coin collection, his brother bought an album of rare stamps.

9. ________________ Nature is her passion in life, and colleagues say that she is a skilled naturalist.

10. ________________ Although it was cold, and the rain was getting heavier, we decided to go fishing as planned.

Directions: Revise the following paragraphs by fixing the punctuation mistakes.

the continuing care retirement community CCRC has become one alternative to the

impending increase in our elderly population according to estella espinoza professor of gerontology

at the university of connecticut. nursing homes are no longer the answer to this social need she said

their simply to costly for todays senior-citizens she added.

CCRC's normally require a tremendous down payment to buy into a living unit then they

require a considerable monthly "maintenance fee." this large initial investment together with the

continuing high price of socalled maintenance means that many americans will be excluded from the

CCRC of their choice. "its a shame that getting old has to be so expensive" said espinoza there are

three things involved here affordability convenience and human dignity