Types of Sentence: 1. Simple Sentences
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Rahmat HaryadiTypes of Sentence: 1. Simple Sentences
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Rahmat HaryadiTypes of Sentence
Sentences are made up of clauses: groups of words that have SUBJECT and VERB and express
a single idea. There are two types of clauses: independent clauses and dependent clauses.
Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences. A dependent clause needs an
independent clause to complete its meaning. Different types of sentences are made up of
different combinations of these two types of clauses.
1. Simple sentences
Consist of just one independent clause
- The essay was late.
A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a
completed thought/meaning.
- Joe waited for the train.
"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
- The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
- Mary and Samantha took the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
- Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" = compound verb
2. Compound sentences
consist of two or more independent clauses (or simple sentences) joined by coordinating
conjunctions and, but, or, so, yet, for We join sentences which are closely related in content to
make the writing/speaking more fluid.
- The essay was late, so he lost marks.
- Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
- Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left before I arrived.
3. Complex sentences
Consist of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in the following
examples is in italics.
- He lost marks because the essay was late.
When the dependent clause comes first, it is separated from the independent clause with a
comma.
- Because his essay was late, he lost marks.
comparing these two examples, it can be seen that the emphasis tends to fall on the clause at the
beginning of the sentence. Vary your placement of dependent clauses in order to emphasise the
most important idea in the sentence. Common ways to begin a dependent clause are: although,
as, because, even though, if, instead, through, when, whenever, where, while.
More example:
- While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.
- After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station.
Whilst more than one dependent clause can be used in a sentence, they must always be combined
with an independent clause to complete the idea. Again, the dependent clauses in this example
are in italics.
Although there are many dissenters, many of whom were prominent citizens, the policy still
stands today.
Different types of sentences can be combined to form compound-complex sentences. In the
example below, the central independent clause combines two sentence types. It serves as both the
ending of the complex sentence and the beginning of the compound sentence.
When considering owning a pet, you must calculate the cost, or the animal may suffer.
When punctuating a compound-complex sentence, apply the rules for both compound and
complex sentences. The example above begins with a dependent clause separated from the
central clause by a comma, as in the rule for complex sentences. At the end of the sentence the
independent clause is joined by a comma and the word or, as in the rule for the compound
sentences.