Sentence Types Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex Simple Sentence - has one independent clause consisting of one subject and one predicate, either of which may be compound. Compound Sentence has two or more independent clauses. The clauses may be joined by a co-ordinate conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) preceded by a comma, or by a semi-colon without a conjunction. C e.g., I like all sports, but swimming is my favourite. C The ball went out of the park, and everyone rose to cheer. Vacation is over; we shall soon return to school. Complex Sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent (or subordinate) clauses. Subordination is a way of showing that
one idea in a sentence is more important than another. Common starting words for Dependent (or Subordinate) clauses are: after since because while although until unless before as (as if) if so that even (even though, even if) who (whoever) which (whichever) whom that what when (whenever) where (wherever) The dependent clause is set off by a comma when it precedes the main clause. clause e.g., Although I like every sport, I enjoy golf most of all. clause I will see you before you leave. clause The doctor recognised the man who entered his office clause Since you started the job, why not finish it? Compound - Complex Sentence has the characteristics of both the compound and the complex sentence. It has two or more independent clauses plus one or more dependent clauses. clause e.g., When I got home, the back door was open and the dog had gone. clause I missed the bus as my alarm clock did not go off and I overslept. clause Anne wrote a letter, Jane read a book and Pauline slept while the lecturer
droned on and on. Label clauses, underline independent clauses once and dependent clauses twice, and indicate whether the sentence is SIMPLE (S), COMPOUND (CO), COMPLEX (CX), or COMPOUND-COMPLEX (CC). 1. Vancouver is beautiful, and I would really like to live there. 2. Most of us already had our reservations. 3. Insurance companies charge higher rates for teen-age drivers because they lack experience. 4. Although they had no system of money, they bartered for many things. 5. He planned to win the contest by practising the piano for six hours every day. 6. When the postman called, John was out, but he collected the parcel later. 7. Emily was fond of carrots, but George preferred cabbage. 8. Tom read, Alex watched television, and Paul did his homework. 9. The myths that surround Macdonald are many. 10. The girl who was here is called Annabelle. 11. The men painted and papered all day. 12. Jim is always tired after a training session, but all athletes who want to succeed must practise long hours. 13. Marie and Carol have gone swimming at the old fishing hole near the mill. 14. Robin s mother brought him some ice cream, but he was feeling ill as he had eaten some unripe gooseberries. 15. I left home early, but because there was so much traffic, I was still late for work, and my boss was angry. 16. Since he had performed so successfully, Vancouver gave him a hero s welcome. 17. Helga likes elephants but I don t.
18. Jack, Paul, George, and Simon went to the ballgame. 19. Everyone laughed, but Adam didn t think the joke was funny. 20. I would have been happier and I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much, if the pay had not been so poor and if the hours had not been so long. (DEP clauses shown in italics.) ANSWER KEY CO 1. IND. IND. Vancouver is beautiful, and I would really like to live there. S 2. Most of us already had our reservations. CX 3. IND. Insurance companies charge higher rates for teen-age drivers because they lack experience. CX 4. IND. Although they had no system of money, they bartered for many things. S 5. He planned to win the contest by practising the piano for six hours every day. CC 6. IND. IND. When the postman called, John was out, but he collected the parcel later.
CO 7. IND. IND. Emily was fond of carrots, but George preferred cabbage. CO 8. IND. IND. IND. Tom read, Alex watched television, and Paul did his homework. CX 9. IND. The myths that surround Macdonald are many. CX 10. IND. The girl who was here is called Annabelle. S 11. The men painted and papered all day. CC 12. IND. Jim is always tired after a training session, but all athletes who want to IND. succeed must practise long hours. S 13. Marie and Carol have gone swimming at the old fishing hole near the mill. CC 14. IND. IND. Robin s mother brought him some ice cream, but he was feeling ill as he had eaten some unripe gooseberries. CC 15. IND. IND.
I left home early, but because there was so much traffic, I was still late IND. for work, and my boss was angry. CX 16. IND. Since he had performed so successfully, Vancouver gave him a hero s welcome. CO 17. IND. IND. Helga likes elephants but I don t. S 18. Jack, Paul, George, and Simon went to the ballgame. CO 19. IND. IND. Everyone laughed, but Adam didn t think the joke was funny. CC 20. IND. IND. I would have been happier and I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much, if the pay had not been so poor and if the hours had not been so long.