Sentence Types Structural classification (Part I: Simple, Compound, Compound-Complex Sentence)
Compiled by: Belachew Weldegebriel
Jimma University
CSSH
Department of English Language and Literature
Types of Sentences: Structural
Sentences are classified in to four according to their structure i.e. the type and number of clauses it consists.
1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence
1.Simple Sentence
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
The dog barked.
The baby cried.
Girma and Alemu play football every afternoon.
St. George played well and won the game.
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject and verb.
It expresses a single complete thought.
A simple sentence is a single independent clause.
A simple sentence might have a compound subject and/or compound verb.
Simple Sentence with Compound Subject and/or Compound Verb
The simple sentence may have a compound subject: The dog and the cat howled.
It may have a compound verb:
The dog howled and barked.
It may have a compound subject and a compound verb:
The dog and the cat howled and yowled respectively.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences joined by
(1) a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so):
The dog barked, and the cat yowled.
(2) a semicolon:
The dog barked; the cat yowled.
(3) a comma, but ONLY when the simple sentences
are being treated as items in a series:
The dog barked, the cat yowled, and the rabbit
chewed.
Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
A compound sentence can also consist of two independent clauses joined by semi-colon
3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
A. When he handed in his homework, he
forgot to give the teacher the last page. B. The teacher returned the homework after
she noticed the error. C. The students are studying because they
have a test tomorrow. D. After they finished studying, Juan and
Maria went to the movies. E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after
they finished studying.
COMPLEX SENTENCES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
A. The woman who(m) my mom talked to
sells cosmetics. B. The book that Jonathan read is on the shelf. C. A girl whom I know was recently accepted
to Harvard University.
D. The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris,
is visited by millions of tourists annually.
The underlined part is the independent clause.
Sentence Types Structural classification (Part I: Simple, Compound, Compound-Complex Sentence)
Compiled by: Belachew Weldegebriel
Jimma University
CSSH
Department of English Language and Literature
Types of Sentences: Structural
Sentences are classified in to four according to their structure i.e. the type and number of clauses it consists.
1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence
1.Simple Sentence
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
The dog barked.
The baby cried.
Girma and Alemu play football every afternoon.
St. George played well and won the game.
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject and verb.
It expresses a single complete thought.
A simple sentence is a single independent clause.
A simple sentence might have a compound subject and/or compound verb.
Simple Sentence with Compound Subject and/or Compound Verb
The simple sentence may have a compound subject: The dog and the cat howled.
It may have a compound verb:
The dog howled and barked.
It may have a compound subject and a compound verb:
The dog and the cat howled and yowled respectively.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences joined by
(1) a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction
(and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so):
The dog barked, and the cat yowled.
(2) a semicolon:
The dog barked; the cat yowled.
(3) a comma, but ONLY when the simple sentences
are being treated as items in a series:
The dog barked, the cat yowled, and the rabbit
chewed.
Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS).
A compound sentence can also consist of two independent clauses joined by semi-colon
3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
A. When he handed in his homework, he
forgot to give the teacher the last page. B. The teacher returned the homework after
she noticed the error. C. The students are studying because they
have a test tomorrow. D. After they finished studying, Juan and
Maria went to the movies. E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after
they finished studying.
COMPLEX SENTENCES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
A. The woman who(m) my mom talked to
sells cosmetics. B. The book that Jonathan read is on the shelf. C. A girl whom I know was recently accepted
to Harvard University.
D. The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris,
is visited by millions of tourists annually.
The underlined part is the independent clause.
We were students in Year II in 2017 at Western University. We prepared this for our assignment, but it also a source for English learners who research about Collocation. And it is summarized and separated to eryone easy to learn.
This Power Point presentation defines syntax and describes seven syntax rules for the English Language. The Presentation also discusses four issues English Language Learners find so difficult when it comes to learning and acquiring ESL.
We were students in Year II in 2017 at Western University. We prepared this for our assignment, but it also a source for English learners who research about Collocation. And it is summarized and separated to eryone easy to learn.
This Power Point presentation defines syntax and describes seven syntax rules for the English Language. The Presentation also discusses four issues English Language Learners find so difficult when it comes to learning and acquiring ESL.
5. Simple Sentence
Pronoun Verb Prepositional phrase
We went to San Juan .
Simple subject Complete predicate
6. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence has more than
one part that can stand alone
(independent clauses)
Independent clauses are connected by
coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive
adverbs or a semi-colon.
7. Compound Sentence
We went to San Juan, and
most of us danced all night.
8. Compound Sentence
Subject Verb Prepositional phrase
We went to San Juan,
Predicate
Coordinating
Conjunction
and most of us danced all night .
Subject Verb Modifying phrase
9. Compound Sentences
My parents caught a severe cold;
consequently, they had to cancel
their vacation.
Conjunctive
Adverb
Some people like basketball;
others prefer baseball.
Semi-colon
10. 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
12. Complex Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
Part that cannot stand alone
Subordinating
Conjunction
Subject Predicate
we went to San Juan yesterday.
13. Compound-Complex
Sentence
This type of sentence has more than
one part that can stand alone, and at
least one that cannot
Notice how the different conjunctions
link the different parts of this sentence
14. Compound-Complex
Sentence
Since we wanted to have fun,
my boyfriend and I went to San Juan yesterday,
and we danced all night.
15. Compound-Complex
Sentence
Subordinating
Conjunction
Since we wanted to have fun,
Part that cannot stand alone
my boyfriend and I went to San Juan,
Coordinating Subject Predicate
Conjunction
and we danced all night.
16. For More Information
Index English Grammar and Composition
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.
Tons of Fun with Grammar
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/flin/103_handouts/senten
ces_and_phrases.htm
Grammar Book Table of Contents
http://www.grammarbook.com/exercises/grammar/
cnt_gram.html
17. Thank You
Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines
Prepared by: Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago
Coordinator for the Center for Languages and Cultures
April-June 2003
Revised by: Patricia Kidd
August 2004
Revised by: Prof. Delia Serrano
January 2005
