Types of sentences

1. Simple One independent clause (IC) with a - we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep (MC)
subject and a verb. It expresses a
complete thought.

2. Complex One independent clause (IC) + one - When we arrived home, (SC)
or more dependent clauses (DC).
- we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep (MC)
The dependent clause cannot stand
alone and is introduced by a
subordinating conjunction (e.g.,
because, although, when, if).

3. Compound Two or more independent clauses - we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep (MC)
(IC) joined by a coordinating
- and the newspapers had not been delivered. (MC)
conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon (;).

4. Compound At least two independent clauses - When we arrived home, (SC)

Complex (IC) + one or more dependent
- we found that the milk bottle was still on the doorstep (MC)
clauses (DC). It combines the
structures of compound and - and the newspapers had not been delivered. (MC)
complex sentences.

A. For each sentence below, identify whether it is simple, complex, compound, or compound-complex. Write your
answer next to the sentence.

1. She went to the store, and she bought some groceries.

2. Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.
3. The dog barked loudly at the stranger.
4. After the movie ended, we went out for dinner, and we discussed the plot.
5. I wanted to go to the party, but I had too much homework.
6. The cat slept on the couch while the dog played in the yard.
7. He studied hard for the exam, so he passed with flying colors.
8. When the bell rang, the students left the classroom, and the teacher sighed in relief.
Simple sentence patterns
Simple sentences come in 4 patterns.
1. S-V–The baby played with his toys. Baby is the subject and played is the verb. This sentence contains one
independent clause and is a complete thought.
2. S-S-V—John and Mary took a vacation. ‘John and Mary’ is a double subject, but the sentence still has only one
clause. There is still only one complete thought in the sentence.
3. S-V-V–The couple next door painted their house and planted a garden. The sentence has a double verb but
contains only one complete thought.
4. S-S-V-V—Bob and Bill played football and watched TV. Even though the sentence has a double subject and a
double verb, it contains only one complete thought.

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B. For each sentence below, identify whether it follows the S-V, S-S-V, S-V-V, or S-S-V-V pattern. Write your answer
next to the sentence.

1. The children laughed and played.

2. Sarah and Tom baked a cake.
3. The sun rose.
4. The dog barked and wagged its tail.
5. Lisa and Anna sang and danced.
6. The teacher explained the lesson.
7. The birds chirped and flew away.
8. Jack and Jill went up the hill.
Compound sentences
Compound sentences are built on simple sentences. They contain two independent clauses. This means that each
clause can stand alone, and could be a complete simple sentence. We link the two clauses together with a coordinating
conjunction. You can remember the coordinating conjunctions with the acronym, FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, so). Put a comma (,) between the clauses right before the conjunction. We use compound sentences frequently in
both speaking and writing.
1. Carlos doesn’t speak English, for he is from Cuba. Carlos doesn’t speak English is one clause and could be a
complete, simple sentence. He is from Cuba is the second clause and could also be a complete, simple
sentence. For means “because.”
2. I live in Colorado, and my family lives in New York. And means that each cause in the sentence is of equal
weight and importance.
3. I don’t like milk, nor do I like cottage cheese. Nor means that both clauses are equally negative.
4. She is a doctor, but her brother is a lawyer. But shows contrast.
5. You can come with us, or you can stay at home. Or shows us that there is a choice.
6. They were tired, yet they went out to see a movie. Yet means that they did something even though they had a
good reason not to.
7. Joseph was sick, so he went to the doctor. So tells us that the second clause is the result of the first.
Sometimes the clauses in a complex sentence can be linked with a semi-colon (;) instead of a coordinating conjunction.
His plane landed late; he took an Uber to his hotel.
C. Combine the following pairs of simple sentences into compound sentences using an appropriate coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS) or a semicolon. Don’t forget to add a comma before the conjunction!
1. I wanted to go to the park. It started raining.

2. She loves to read books. She also enjoys writing stories.

3. He didn’t study for the test. He didn’t do well.

4. You can take the bus. You can walk to school.

5. They were exhausted. They stayed up to finish the project.

6. The movie was long. It was very entertaining.

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 7. I don’t like coffee. I don’t like tea.

8. He missed the train. He arrived late to the meeting.

Complex sentences
Complex sentences contain two clauses. One is an independent clause meaning that it can stand alone. The other is a
dependent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone. It would not make sense without the independent clause.
The two clauses are linked by a subordinating conjunction. We use complex sentences in conversation, but we use
them more often in writing.
Types of subordinating conjunctions
There are 6 types of subordinating conjunctions. You will see example sentences using each type. The dependent
clause may come before are after the independent clause. If the dependent clause comes first, we separate the clauses
with a comma.
1. Contrast: although, even though, while, though
Even though he earns a good salary, he never has any money. He never has any money is the independent clause. It
could stand alone as a simple sentence. Even though he earns a good salary is the dependent clause. It does not
make sense by itself, but it gives the sentence a new meaning when it joined to the independent clause.
2. Cause: because, since, as
Because she hated snow, she moved to Florida.
3. Condition: if, when, unless
Don’t come to work late unless you want to get fired. The sentence begins with the independent clause, don’t come to
work late. Since the independent clause comes first, there is no need for a comma.
4. Time: whenever, once, before, after, until, as soon as
As soon as I find a new job, I’ll start looking for a better car.
5. Place: where, wherever
I want to vacation on a tropical island where the beaches are beautiful.
6. Relative pronouns: who, which, that
The person who invented Scotch tape was a genius. Note that the dependent clause, who invented Scotch tape,
comes in the middle of the independent clause. The independent clause is the person was a genius. We place the
dependent clause next to the word it describes, person.
D. For each complex sentence below, identify the dependent clause and the independent clause. Write your answers
next to the sentence.
1. Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
Dependent:
Independent:
2. She stayed home because she was feeling sick.
Dependent:
Independent:
3. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
Dependent:
Independent:
4. The book, which I borrowed from the library, was very interesting.

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 Dependent:
Independent:
5. As soon as the movie ended, we went out for dinner.
Dependent:
Independent:
6. He couldn’t find the keys, even though he looked everywhere.
Dependent:
Independent:
7. I will call you when I arrive at the station.
Dependent:
Independent:
8. The house where I grew up is now a museum.
Dependent:
Independent:
Compound-complex sentences
Compound-complex sentences are a combination of a compound sentence and a complex sentence. Therefore, these
sentences have at least 3 clauses: two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. Of all the sentence
types, this one can be very long and complicated to read and understand. We don’t use compound-complex sentences
much when speaking. Instead, we use them more in very formal or academic writing. Here is an example of a
compound-complex sentence.
After the Broncos lost the Super Bowl, they cleaned out their lockers, and they boarded the plane for home. After the
Broncos lost the Super Bowl is the dependent clause. The first independent clause is they cleaned out their
lockers. The second is they boarded the plane for home.
E. For each compound-complex sentence below, identify the dependent clause and the two
independent clauses. Write your answers next to the sentence.
1. After the movie ended, we went out for dinner, and we discussed the plot.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
2. Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed early.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
3. When the storm started, we took shelter, but the power went out.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
4. Because he missed the bus, he was late to work, and his boss was upset.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
5. If you study hard, you will pass the exam, and you will feel proud of yourself.
Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:
6. The book, which I borrowed from the library, was fascinating, and I couldn’t put it down.

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Dependent:
Independent 1:
Independent 2:

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A. Answer Key 1. Dependent: Although it was raining
Independent: we went for a walk.
1. Compound 2. Dependent: because she was feeling sick
2. Complex Independent: She stayed home.
3. Simple 3. Dependent: If you study hard
4. Compound-Complex Independent: you will pass the exam.
5. Compound 4. Dependent: which I borrowed from the library
6. Complex Independent: The book was very interesting.
7. Compound 5. Dependent: As soon as the movie ended
8. Compound-Complex Independent: we went out for dinner.
6. Dependent: even though he looked everywhere
B. Answer Key Independent: He couldn’t find the keys.
7. Dependent: when I arrive at the station
1. S-V-V Independent: I will call you.
2. S-S-V 8. Dependent: where I grew up
3. S-V Independent: The house is now a museum.
4. S-V-V
E. Answer Key for Exercise 1
5. S-S-V-V
6. S-V 1. Dependent: After the movie ended
7. S-V-V Independent 1: we went out for dinner
8. S-S-V Independent 2: we discussed the plot.
2. Dependent: Although she was tired
Independent 1: she finished her homework
Independent 2: she went to bed early.
C. Answer Key 3. Dependent: When the storm started
Independent 1: we took shelter
1. I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.
Independent 2: the power went out.
2. She loves to read books, and she also enjoys writing
4. Dependent: Because he missed the bus
stories.
Independent 1: he was late to work
3. He didn’t study for the test, so he didn’t do well.
Independent 2: his boss was upset.
4. You can take the bus, or you can walk to school.
5. Dependent: If you study hard
5. They were exhausted, yet they stayed up to finish
Independent 1: you will pass the exam
the project.
Independent 2: you will feel proud of yourself.
6. The movie was long, but it was very entertaining.
6. Dependent: which I borrowed from the library
7. I don’t like coffee, nor do I like tea.
Independent 1: The book was fascinating
8. He missed the train, so he arrived late to the
Independent 2: I couldn’t put it down.
meeting.

D. Answer Key

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