This document defines and provides examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences. A simple sentence contains one independent clause. A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. A complex sentence contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses joined by a subordinating conjunction. The placement of dependent clauses determines punctuation use.

1. Simple,
Compound,
and Complex
Sentences
By N. Valdelomar

2. What is a sentence?
Characteristics: A sentence…
 starts with a capital letter.
 ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point.
 contains one or more words.
 contains a subject and a predicate, either expressed or clearly understood.
 makes a statement, asks a question, expresses a command or request, or
indicates a strong feeling or emotion.
A sentence is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate.

3. Which of the following are sentences?
1. always did what he was told _____
2. run _____
3. because I was tired _____
4. the people in this class _____
5. the students taking LM-1002 _____
6. when he comes back _____
7. she will be joining us _____
8. I laughed _____
9. is he coming _____

4. Clauses
• A clause is a part of a sentence.
• A sentence can contain many clauses.
• Each clause has only one main verb.
I love you. One sentence and one clause
I love you, and I will always love you.
I live in London, which is in England.
One sentence
and two
clauses

5. Clauses
There are two types of clauses:
A) Independent Clauses (IC): An independent clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent
clause is a sentence.
Example:
Jill will visit her parents after work tomorrow. (IC)

6. Clauses
B) Dependent Clause (DC): A dependent clause is a group of words that contains
a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause
cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent
marker word.
Example:
Before Jill visits her parents tomorrow. . . (DC)
(What will happen before she visits her parents tomorrow? The thought is
incomplete.)

7. Types of sentences
Structurally, English sentences can be classified into four different ways.
 The classifications are based on the number of independent and dependent
clauses a sentence contains.
 These are the four types:
❖ simple sentence
❖ compound sentence
❖ complex sentence
❖ compound-complex sentence
 In this course, we are going to study the first three types.

8. Simple Sentence
• A simple sentence consists of an independent clause, so it contains a subject
and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
Japanese food is commonly exported around the world

9. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a
comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet,
so—FANBOYS).
• Japanese food is commonly exported around the world, and its most
famous type of food is sushi.
• We have a lot of farmland, but the country still buys a lot of its food from
other countries.
• The country has a high population and not much land, so it has to import
much of its food.

10. Remember!
Coordinating conjunctions can connect words, phrases, and independent clauses.
However, we use a comma before the conjunction only when it joins two
independent clauses.
Words: Common foods grown in Costa Rica are coffee and bananas.
Phrases: Eating frozen yogurt or drinking a fruit smoothie is a healthy
alternative to ice cream.
Independent Clauses: Fast food has become popular these days, but it is not
healthy at all.

11. Complex Sentences
A complex sentence consists of a combination of an independent
clause and one or more dependent clauses. A subordinator
(because, since, after, although, while, if) always introduces the DC.
• Because fast food is very popular, it is eaten by a lot of people.
DC IC
• Our country does not produce much food since it is too hot here.
IC DC

12. Complex Sentences
The placement of a subordinate clause determines the punctuation of the clause. Use a comma
following an introductory subordinate clause* to separate it from the independent clause.
Because subordinate clause, independent clause.
If subordinate clause, independent clause.
Since subordinate clause, independent clause.
While subordinate clause, independent clause.
Examples:
Since we have a lot of farmland, our country exports a lot of food.
If we produce more food, we will not have to import so many products.
*A subordinate clause is a dependent clause.

13. Complex Sentences
When the subordinate clause follows the independent clause, no comma is needed. Consider
that there are some exceptions to the rule. You will learn those in future writing courses.
Independent clause because subordinate clause.
Independent clause if subordinate clause.
Independent clause since subordinate clause.
Independent clause while subordinate clause.
Examples:
Our country still imports most of its food because we do not produce a lot.
We will not have to import so many products if we produce more food.