Sentence Structure: Sentence Types

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• Sentence StructureSentence Types

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Sentence Types

• Simple
• Compound
• Complex
• Compound-Complex

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Complex Sentence
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Complex Sentence

• A complex sentence has at least two parts one
  that can stand alone and another one that cannot
• The part that cannot stand alone is linked to the
  rest of the sentence by a subordinating
  conjunction

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Complex Sentence
Since my boyfriend and I wanted to have fun,
we went to San Juan yesterday.
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Complex Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
Subordinating Conjunction
Part that cannot stand alone
Subject
Predicate
we went to San Juan yesterday.
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Complex Sentence
SUBJECT
PREDICATE
even though
SUBJECT
PREDICATE
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Complex Sentence
Bob
is popular
even though
he
is ugly.
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COMPLEX SENTENCESUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
The most common subordinating conjunctions are
"after," "although," "as," "because," "before,"
"how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that,"
though," "till," "until," "when," "where,"
"whether, and while."
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COMPLEX SENTENCESUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Bob is popular even though he is ugly.
Clause 1
Clause 2 Independent
Dependent
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COMPLEX SENTENCESUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Even though Bob is ugly, he is popular.
Clause 1
Clause 2 Dependent
Independent
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Read each sentence and determine if it is simple,
compound, or complex sentence
1. We rang the doorbell, but no one answered
it. 2. I wrote Jane a letter while she was away
at camp. 3. Have you seen Mr. Nelsons garden at
the back of his house? 4. When Miss Jones
entered the room, we all became quiet. 5. Susan
likes chemistry, but she likes physics better.
6. Since weve lost every game but one, no one
is excited about football this year. 7. When Im
tired , Im not good company for anyone. 8.
Wandering aimlessly up the path, Mr. Cutter
approached the house. 9. Susan sang a solo and
accompanied herself on the piano. 10. When the
rain began, we were playing tennis.
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Answersdependent clause and independent clause
1. We rang the doorbell, but no one answered it.
compound 2. I wrote Jane a letter while she was
away at camp. complex 3. Have you seen Mr.
Nelsons garden at the back of his house? simple
4. When Miss Jones entered the room, we all
became quiet. complex 5. Susan likes chemistry,
but she likes physics better. compound 6. Since
weve lost every game but one, no one is excited
about football this year. complex 7. When Im
tired , Im not good company for anyone. complex
8. Wandering aimlessly up the path, Mr. Cutter
approached the house. simple 9. Susan sang a
solo and accompanied herself on the piano. simple
10. When the rain began, we were playing tennis.
complex
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Compound-Complex Sentence
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Compound-Complex Sentence

• This type of sentence has more than one part
  that can stand alone, and at least one that
  cannot.
• Conjunctions link the different parts of this
  sentence.

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Compound-Complex Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
my boyfriend and I went to San Juan yesterday,
and we danced all night.
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Compound-Complex Sentence
Subordinating Conjunction
Since we wanted to have fun,
Part that cannot stand alone
my boyfriend and I went to San Juan,
Subject
Predicate
Coordinating Conjunction
and we danced all night.
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Compound-Complex Sentence
Mike
is popular
because
he
is good looking,
but
he
is not very happy.
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Exercises

• Say if the following sentences are
• Simple, compound, complex or compound-complex.

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• The bell rang.
• Bridget ran the first part of the race, and Tara
  biked the second part.
• He stands at the bottom of the cliff while the
  climber moves up the rock.
• The skier turned and jumped.
• Naoki passed the test because he studied hard and
  understood the material.

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Answers

1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Complex
4. Simple
5. Compound-complex

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1. Because Kayla has so much climbing experience ,
   we asked her to lead our group.
2. You and I need piano lessons.
3. I planned to go to the hockey game, but I
   couldnt get tickets.
4. Dorothy likes white water rafting, but she also
   enjoys kayaking.
5. There are many problems to solve before this
   program can be used, but engineers believe that
   they will be able to solve them soon.

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Answers

• Complex
• Simple
• Compound
• Compound
• Compound-complex

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References
Writing Academic English, Second Edition, by
Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue. White Plains
Addison, Wesley, Longman, 1999. The Little, Brown
Handbook, by H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E. Aaron,
Pearson, 2004.