The document discusses the four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. It defines each type based on whether they contain independent clauses, subordinate clauses, or both. Simple sentences contain one independent clause, compound sentences contain two or more independent clauses, complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses, and compound-complex sentences contain two or more independent clauses and one or more subordinate clauses. Examples of each type are provided for illustration.

1. Types of Sentences
Or How To Really Impress People
With Your Sentence Variety

2. Types of Sentences
 Sentences are classified according to
the number and kinds of clauses they
contain. There are four types:
 Simple
 Complex
 Compound
 Compound-Complex
Let’s look at each one of these more closely.

3. Types of Sentences
The Simple Sentence
A simple sentence has only one independent
clause and no subordinate clauses.
The runner won the race easily.
S V DO ADV

4. Types of Sentences
The Compound Sentence
A compound sentence has two or more
independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.
The runner trained for many months, so he won the race easily.
S V DO ADV
S V
ADV

5. Types of Sentences
The Complex Sentence
A complex sentence has one independent clause
and one or more subordinate clauses.
The runner, who had trained for many months, won the race easily.
S V DO ADV
S V
ADV

6. Types of Sentences
The Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence has two independent
clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.
The runner, who had trained for many months, won the race easily,
but she did not attain a personal best.
S V DO ADV
S V
ADV
S V DO

7. Types of Sentences
Type of
sentence
Independent
Clauses
Subordinate
Clauses
Simple One None
Compound Two or more None
Complex One One or more
Compound-
Complex
Two or more One or more
It may be helpful to remember them in this way:

8. Types of Sentences
Identify the sentence type in the following:
She smiled sweetly, and he grinned shyly. Compound
Mary and Tom agreed to meet after school. Simple
I had a poor background, and the subject was quite
difficult; however, the teacher explained the concepts
very clearly. Compound

9. Types of Sentences
Identify the sentence type in the following:
Because the store was closed, we returned home. Complex
Complex
The old prospector was discouraged; however, when I
suggested giving up, he was indignant. Compound-complex
Although my friends were lost for a while, they eventually
found the restaurant that you recommended.