Sentence Structure: Sentence Types

Sentence Types Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex

Complex Sentence Practice 11. When Uncle Jack comes to town, we all have a good time. 12. I worked all morning, and then I relaxed in the afternoon. 13. Beth likes all seasons of the year, but she likes fall best. 14. On our trip we drove every afternoon until five o’clock. 15. Dave began to feel better before the doctor arrived. 16. Whistling loudly, Ken walked past the cemetery. 17. How many states can you see from Lookout Mountain? 18. If you want your car really clean, let George wash it. 19. I must stay home until the man comes to repair the washing machine. 20. Our neighbors are going to Canada on their vacation, but we will take our vacation at home.

Answers 11. When Uncle Jack comes to town, we all have a good time. complex 12. I worked all morning, and then I relaxed in the afternoon. compound 13. Beth likes all seasons of the year, but she likes fall best. compound 14. On our trip we drove every afternoon until five o’clock. simple 15. Dave began to feel better before the doctor arrived. complex 16. Whistling loudly, Ken walked past the cemetery. simple 17. How many states can you see from Lookout Mountain? simple 18. If you want your car really clean, let George wash it. complex 19. I must stay home until the man comes to repair the washing machine. complex 20. Our neighbors are going to Canada on their vacation, but we will take our vacation at home. compound

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

Complex Sentence Since my boyfriend and I wanted to have fun, we went to San Juan yesterday.

Complex Sentence Since we wanted to have fun, Subordinating Conjunction Part that cannot stand alone Subject Predicate we went to San Juan yesterday.

Complex Sentence SUBJECT PREDICATE even though SUBJECT PREDICATE

Complex Sentence Bob is popular even though he is ugly.

COMPLEX SENTENCE: SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS The most common subordinating conjunctions are "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," though," "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether,” and while."

COMPLEX SENTENCE: SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS Bob is popular even though he is ugly. Clause 1 Clause 2 Independent Dependent

COMPLEX SENTENCE: SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS Even though Bob is ugly, he is popular. Clause 1 Clause 2 Dependent Independent

Read each sentence and determine if it is simple, compound, or complex sentence 1. We rang the doorbell, but no one answered it. 2. I wrote Jane a letter while she was away at camp. 3. Have you seen Mr. Nelson’s garden at the back of his house? 4. When Miss Jones entered the room, we all became quiet. 5. Susan likes chemistry, but she likes physics better. 6. Since we’ve lost every game but one, no one is excited about football this year. 7. When I’m tired , I’m not good company for anyone. 8. Wandering aimlessly up the path, Mr. Cutter approached the house. 9. Susan sang a solo and accompanied herself on the piano. 10. When the rain began, we were playing tennis.

Answers dependent clause and independent clause 1. We rang the doorbell, but no one answered it. compound 2. I wrote Jane a letter while she was away at camp. complex 3. Have you seen Mr. Nelson’s garden at the back of his house? simple 4. When Miss Jones entered the room, we all became quiet. complex 5. Susan likes chemistry, but she likes physics better. compound 6. Since we’ve lost every game but one, no one is excited about football this year. complex 7. When I’m tired , I’m not good company for anyone. complex 8. Wandering aimlessly up the path, Mr. Cutter approached the house. simple 9. Susan sang a solo and accompanied herself on the piano. simple 10. When the rain began, we were playing tennis. complex

Compound-Complex Sentence

Compound-Complex Sentence This type of sentence has more than one part that can stand alone, and at least one that cannot. Conjunctions link the different parts of this sentence.

Compound-Complex Sentence Since we wanted to have fun, my boyfriend and I went to San Juan yesterday, and we danced all night.

Compound-Complex Sentence Subordinating Conjunction Since we wanted to have fun, Part that cannot stand alone my boyfriend and I went to San Juan, Subject Predicate Coordinating Conjunction and we danced all night.

Compound-Complex Sentence Mike is popular because he is good looking, but he is not very happy.

Exercises Say if the following sentences are: Simple, compound, complex or compound-complex.

The bell rang. Bridget ran the first part of the race, and Tara biked the second part. He stands at the bottom of the cliff while the climber moves up the rock. The skier turned and jumped. Naoki passed the test because he studied hard and understood the material.

Answers Simple Compound Complex Compound-complex

Because Kayla has so much climbing experience , we asked her to lead our group. You and I need piano lessons. I planned to go to the hockey game, but I couldn’t get tickets. Dorothy likes white water rafting, but she also enjoys kayaking. There are many problems to solve before this program can be used, but engineers believe that they will be able to solve them soon.

Answers Complex Simple Compound Compound-complex

References Writing Academic English, Second Edition, by Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue. White Plains: Addison, Wesley, Longman, 1999. The Little, Brown Handbook, by H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E. Aaron, Pearson, 2004.