Sentences Types

Description
TYPE OF SENTENCES

Preview
TYPE OF SENTENCES
SIMPLE SENTENCE
COMPOUND SENTENCE
COMPLEX SENTENCE
DEFINITION
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spells FANBOYS.) Except for very short sentences, coordinators are always preceded by a comma.

A complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which.
EXAMPLE
In the following simple sentences, subjects are in yellow, and verbs are in green.
A. Some students like to study in the mornings.
B. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon.
C. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day

In the following compound sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the coordinators and the commas that precede them are in red.
A. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English.
B. Alejandro played football, so Maria went shopping.
C. Alejandro played football, for Maria went shopping.

In the following complex sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the subordinators and their commas (when required) are in red.
When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page.
The teacher returned the homework after she noticed the error.
The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.
After they finished studying, Juan and Maria went to the movies.
Juan and Maria went to the movies after they finished studying.
EXPLANATION
The three examples above are all simple sentences. Note that sentence B contains a compound subject, and sentence C contains a compound verb. Simple sentences, therefore, contain a subject and verb and express a complete thought, but they can also contain a compound subjects or verbs.
The above three sentences are compound sentences. Each sentence contains two independent clauses, and they are joined by a coordinator with a comma preceding it. Note how the conscious use of coordinators can change the relationship between the clauses. Sentences B and C, for example, are identical except for the coordinators. In sentence B, which action occurred first? Obviously, "Alejandro played football" first, and as a consequence, "Maria went shopping. In sentence C, "Maria went shopping" first. In sentence C, "Alejandro played football" because, possibly, he didn't have anything else to do, for or because "Maria went shopping."
When a complex sentence begins with a subordinator such as sentences A and D, a comma is required at the end of the dependent clause. When the independent clause begins the sentence with ...