1. So far, you have learned about three
types of sentences.
Good writes add interest and
variety to their writing by using all
three types.
Module 6
Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
Review
Information taken from: Hogue, A.
(2008). First steps in academic writing.
Longman: N.Y.

2. SIMPLE SENTENCE
 A simple sentence has one independent clause.
 Examples:
 It rained.
S V
 (You) Raise your hand to ask a question.
S V
 It was a sunny day.
S V
 We love animals.
S V

3. COMPOUND SENTENCE
 A COMPOUND SENTENCE has two or more
independent clauses joined by a comma (,) and a
coordinating conjunction.
 Examples:
 It rained, so we didn’t go to the park.
S V S V
 It was a sunny day, so we went to the beach
S V S V
 We love animals, but we can’t have pets in our house.
S V S V
COORDINATING
CONJUNCTION
COORDINATING
CONJUNCTION
COORDINATING
CONJUNCTION

4.  A COMPLEX SENTENCE has one independent and
one or more dependent clauses. A comma is needed
when a clause comes before and independent clause.
Examples:
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE DEPENDENT CLAUSE
Art students should visit Paris because it has excellent art museums.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
After we finished our homework, we watched TV for a while.
COMPLEX SENTENCE

5. Sentence Type What do they
do?
Example When should I
use it?
Simple Sentence They express
complete,
independent
thoughts.
Dogs are cute.
Dogs bark.
I don’t want a cat.
It’s ideal when you
have to say a single
thought without
unrelated or
unnecessary
thoughts.
Warning!
A long series of simple sentences will make your writing choppy and boring.

6. Sentence Type What do they
do?
Example When should I
use it?
Compound
Sentence
They join two ideas
to show a
relationship of
equal importance.
A coordinating
conjunction is used
to show this
relation.
Dogs are cute, so I
want a dog.
I’m allergic to cats,
so I don’t want a
cat.
Use a compound
sentence when you
want to show that
two ideas are
related, and of
equal significance.
Warning!
Don’t connect simple sentences at random, so they are joined for no real
reason.
Example:
Garcia Marquez is my favorite writer, and my mother is a nurse.
These two ideas are not related!

7. Sentence Type What do they
do?
Example When should I
use it?
Complex Sentence They join an
independent
clause (the main
thought) with one
or more dependent
clauses (pieces of
sentences that
cannot stand
alone).
When the clock
struck three, the
students rushed to
the door.
As soon as the
teacher said the
answers, he
corrected his work.
Use a complex
sentence if you
want to show a
relation between
two or more ideas,
and one is more
important than the
others.
Warning!
When you use complex sentences properly, your writing is much easier to
follow.
However, if you overuse them, you can have confusing run-on sentences.