Types of Sentences

Independent Clause Independent: contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

Dependent Clause Dependent: contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . (What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.) Marked by dependent marker word: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

Simple Sentence A simple sentence has a subject and a verb and completes a thought. For example: She went to the store. (subject = she / verb = went)

Compound Sentence A compound sentence is made by joining two independent clauses together with a conjunction. Compound sentences are often formed with these coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so, and ; (the semi-colon). Some examples: John bought some new shoes, and he wore them to a party. Lydia liked her new house, but she didn't like the front yard. We can go see a movie, or we can get something to eat.

Complex Sentence A complex sentence is made from an independent clause and a dependent clause joined together. Complex sentences are often formed by putting these words at the beginning of the dependent clause: as, as if, before, after, because, though, even though, while, when, whenever, if, during, as soon as, as long as, since, until, unless, where, and wherever. These words are called subordinating conjunctions. Some examples: After I came home, I made dinner. (dependent clause: "After I came home") (indpendent clause: I made dinner) We visited the museum before it closed. (dependent clause: before it closed.) (independent clause: We visited the museum)

Compound Complex Sentence Has two main clauses and at least one dependent clause. A compound-complex sentence consists of a combination of a compound sentence and a complex sentence. Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with. independent clause: "I haven't had the time to go lately" independent clause: "I haven't found anyone to go with" dependent clause: "Although I like to go camping... "