SENTENCE TYPES

A. The Simple Sentence

When we write, a complete thought is called a sentence. A sentence must contain a complete
subject (person, place, or thing) and a verb (what the subject is doing) in order to make sense. A
simple sentence must also begin with a capital letter and end with a period, question mark, or
exclamation mark. Another name for a simple sentence is an independent clause.
The baby cried. This is a sentence because it tells us what someone (subject – the baby) does (verb
– cried).
Birds fly. This is a sentence because it tells us what something (subject – birds) does (verb – fly).
My computer. This is not a sentence because it has a subject (my computer) but no verb.
Crashed. This is a verb, which tells us what happened (crashed), but there is no subject.
My computer crashed. This is a sentence because it tells us what something (subject – my
computer) does (verb – crashed).
Remember, a sentence can end with a period, question mark, or exclamation mark. Grace ran. Did
Grace run? Grace ran faster than Nicole! An exclamation mark expresses strong emotion or
emphasis.
Compound Subjects and Verbs
A simple sentence can have two subjects – Kate and I.
A sentence can also have a subject performing two actions (verbs) – We sang and danced.
A sentence can have a verb phrase – I will go to the bank after work.
A sentence could have both two subjects and two verbs – Kate and I sang and danced.

B. Compound Sentences—Joining Two Ideas Together

A simple sentence contains a subject, complete verb, capital at the beginning, and punctuation at
the end. It must make sense on its own. It is also called an independent clause.
A compound sentence follows the same rules as a simple sentence, except it basically contains
TWO simple sentences with a LINK in the middle. There are three ways to link simple sentences
together to form a compound sentence.
1. Coordinate Conjunctions Join two simple sentences together with a comma and coordinate
conjunction. The coordinate conjunction shows the relationship between two sentences of
equal importance. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
I love hockey, but I hate cold hockey rinks.
You can omit the comma if the subject in the second clause is dropped.
I went home after school and watched TV.
2. Semicolon
A semicolon (;) can join two simple sentences closely related in meaning. It is like a weak
period; it indicates a strong connection between the two sentences.
Each side of the semicolon must be able to stand alone as an independent sentence (also
called an independent clause).
I love hockey; I hate cold hockey rinks.
 I love hockey; cold rinks I can do without.

3. Conjunctive Adverb
You can also use conjunctive adverbs to link together two simple sentences with a semicolon.
Conjunctive adverbs, like coordinate conjunctions previously described, are words that show
the relationship between two simple sentences of equal importance. Examples of conjunctive
adverbs are listed below:
Nevertheless, accordingly, afterwards, also, anyway, besides, consequently, furthermore, however,
indeed, in fact, instead, likewise, nonetheless, otherwise, similarly, still, therefore, thus
I love hockey; however, I hate cold hockey rinks.
When using conjunctive adverbs to link simple sentences, put a semicolon before and a
comma after the adverb. Remember, both sides of the joining word are complete sentences
and must make sense on their own
C. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains two simple sentences (clauses), but one is more important than the
other. Again, as in some compound sentences, the two sentences are connected with a joining
word. The linking word (subordinate conjunction) makes the clause following it less important than
the other clause. The linking word also makes the clause following it dependent upon the rest of
the sentence to make sense.
Don’t forget your homework when you go to school.
or
When you go to school, don’t forget your homework.
The main message here is don’t forget your homework. This is the independent or main clause. The
dependent, or less important clause, is when you go to school. Notice that when you go to school
contains a subject and complete verb but does not make sense on its own. It is dependent upon the
rest of the sentence to make sense.
The linking word can go at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle. If the linking word is at the
beginning of the sentence, you need a comma after the first clause.
Because I completed all my homework, I am going out with my friends tonight.
or
I am going out with my friends tonight because I completed all my homework.
The main message is I am going out with my friends tonight.
This makes sense on its own. The half containing the linking word because is less important and
does not make sense on its own.
The following list of words can be used at the beginning of:
• a dependent clause
• a clause that lacks a subject
• a clause that lacks a verb
• a complete idea that cannot stand on its own.
QUICK REVIEW
Simple Sentence Today, I study grammar .
Compound Sentence Today, I study grammar, and tomorrow, I will write better.
Compound Sentence Today, I study grammar; therefore, tomorrow, I will be a better
writer.
Complex Sentence If I study grammar today, I will be a better writer tomorrow.

EXERCISE 1
For questions 1-5, underline the subject in the sentence.

1. The kangaroo bounced across the dirt road.

2. Prince George is my favorite city.
3. Yesterday, Parminder and I saw our teacher in her yellow Hummer.
4. Did John close the window?
5. My cousin and my sister joined the party late.

For questions 6-10, underline the verb in the sentence.

6. My warm bed is a great destination after a long, challenging day.

7. We lost all power during three snowstorms this winter.
8. Sarah and Paul canoe, sail, and kiteboard together.
9. The bread seems stale.
10. Judy has finished her homework.

EXERCISE 2
Following the instructions provided, join the clauses by properly punctuating each sentence.
Do not omit any existing words.

1. Join these sentences with the coordinate conjunction but.

I hate hotdogs. I like hamburgers.

2. Join these two clauses using the subordinate conjunction if.

My father was worried about me. He would phone.

3. Join these two clauses using the coordinate conjunction so.

My rent is too high. I’m going to move.

4. Join these two clauses using the coordinate conjunction or.

Should we stay here? Should they meet us there?

5. Join these two clauses using the subordinate conjunction because.

The entrance fee was too high. Few could afford the gallery opening.

6. Join these two clauses using the subordinate conjunction whenever.

We had a party. Our next-door neighbors would always complain.
7. Join these two clauses using only a semicolon to create a compound sentence.
Bob understands calculus. He’s studied it for years.

8. Join these two clauses using the coordinate conjunction but.

Canada is a rich country. It still has many poor people.

9. Join these clauses using a semicolon and however.

Vancouver has a better football team. Calgary has a better hockey team.

10. Join these two clauses using the subordinate conjunction even though.
My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go.

Sentence Fragments
Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences. There are three basic types: missing verb,
missing subject, and dependent clause.

Missing Verb (or part of verb)

sentence fragment: Two hundred spectators.

error: This statement does not have a verb indicating what these
people are doing. Add a verb to make the statement a complete
sentence.
corrected sentence: Two hundred spectators attended the game.

sentence fragment: Two hundred spectators attending the game.

error: An “ing” form of a verb requires a helper verb to make sense on its
own.
corrected sentence: Two hundred spectators are attending the game.

Missing Subject

sentence fragment: Flew over the fence at great speed.

error: This statement does not have a subject indicating who or what did
this flying. Add a subject to make the statement a complete
sentence.

corrected sentence: The ball flew over the fence at great speed.
Dependent Clause
Dependent Clause (contains a subject and a verb, but doesn’t make sense on its own)

sentence fragment: While I waited for the bus.

error: This statement has both a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand
alone. It is a dependent clause that needs an independent clause
to make it complete. Add an independent clause with a subject and
verb to make the statement a complete sentence. When you add
an independent clause to the dependent clause, you are
constructing a complex sentence.

corrected sentence: While I waited for the bus, a friend came by and picked me up.
or
A friend came by and picked me up while I waited for the bus.

EXERCISE 3
Identify whether the statement is a complete sentence or a sentence fragment by circling
the correct option.

1. Most birds with long, pointed wings.

a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
2. Brenda was digging potatoes.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
3. She laughed.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
4. Jumped like a grasshopper.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
5. The chickadees ate out of our hands.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
6. Performed with no audience.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
7. The girl down the street.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
8. The street lamps on either side of the alley.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
9. When Eric called last night on the phone.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment
 10. Because more and more teenagers stay up far too late.
a. complete sentence b. sentence fragment

EXERCISE 4

For each of the following sentences, identify whether the main subject is missing, the main
verb is missing, or whether the sentence is complete.

1. An old man without any regrets.

a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
2. The large wooden cabinet, which needs cleaning.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
3. Was waiting for hours.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
4. While I was vacationing in Orlando, which is in Florida, I saw many relatives.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
5. He lived in a room with a single bed; stained, torn curtains; and newspapers covering the
windows.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
6. Are ready and able to begin the trek to the summit.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
7. Because everyone agreed that Antonia was a natural leader, they voted for her.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
8. Was under the stack of papers on the bookshelf or behind the sofa.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
9. Meredith and her sister, who is a talented guitar player.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
10. The dog that the neighbors own.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
11. Attained a speed or about twelve miles an hour.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
12. To prove himself and to his parents that he was a independent, he got a job.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
13. As Christmas grows near, I find myself looking back at my childhood when family and friends
often got together.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
14. Didn’t realize that the time had passed so quickly.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence
15. A story with a surprise twist.
a. main subject is missing b. main verb is missing c. complete sentence

RUN ON SENTENCES
Run-on sentences and comma splices are closely related punctuation errors that are corrected in
similar ways.
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper
punctuation or joining words.
Run-on: The music was loud my neighbor complained.

Here are three different ways to correct this run-on sentence.

Correction 1: Separate the run-on into two sentences.
The music was loud. My neighbor complained.
Correction 2: Join the independent clauses (simple sentences) with a semicolon.
The music was loud; my neighbor complained.
Correction 3: Connect the independent clauses with a comma and coordinate
conjunction
The music was loud, so my neighbor complained.
A comma splice occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined together with only a
comma.
Comma Splice: The music wasn’t even that loud, my neighbor complained.
Correction 1: Connect run-on sentence with a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb.
The music wasn’t even that loud; however, my neighbor complained.
Correction 2: Add a subordinate conjunction to make one half of the sentence less
important (form a complex sentence).
Even though the music wasn’t that loud, my neighbor complained.
EXERCISE 5
Select the better correction for each of the following run-on sentences by circling the correct option.
1. The donkey brayed the dog barked.
a. The donkey brayed and barked. b. The donkey brayed whenever the dog barked.
2. Luckily, I was only visiting I didn’t have to live there forever.
a. Luckily, I was only visiting; I didn’t have to live there forever.
 b. Luckily, I was only visiting, I didn’t have to live there forever.
3. The day was hot I went for a swim.
a. The day was hot, so I went for a swim. b. The day was hot, I went for a swim.

4. That’s when the trouble began it was hard to know what to do.
a. That’s when the trouble began, it was hard to know what to do.
b. That’s when the trouble began. It was hard to know what to do.
5. Some students work during the day, after work, they attend night classes.
a. Some students work during the day. After work, attend night classes.
b. Some students work during the day; after work, they attend night classes.
6. Shelley loved travelling in Italy she felt Rome was too hot.
a. Shelley loved travelling in Italy, but she felt Rome was too hot.
b. Shelley loved travelling in Italy but, she felt Rome was too hot.
7. Many students work while attending college many finance their education without help from their
parents.
a. Many students work while attending college, many finance their education without help from
their parents.
b. Many students work while attending college; many finance their education without help from
their parents.
8. The problem occurred each of them caught sight of the other.
a. The problem occurred, each of them caught sight of the other.
b. The problem occurred when each of them caught sight of the other.
9. The girls played basketball the boys play tennis.
a. The girls played basketball; however, the boys played tennis.
b. The girls played basketball, the boys played tennis.
10. Maria and Sam like skiing Jody does not.
a. Although Maria and Sam like skiing, Jody does not.
b. Maria and Sam like skiing, unfortunately, Jody does not.

Parallel Structure
When writing a sentence, the structure of items in the sentence should be grammatically consistent.
All items in a series should be in parallel form using the same pattern of words including nouns,
verbs, phrases, and clauses. This makes the sentence clear and easy to follow.

 With Verbs:
Incorrect: All business students should learn word processing, accounting, and how to
program computers.
Correct: All business students should learn word processing, accounting, and computer
programming.

Incorrect: Jennifer ate, drank, and was dancing.

Correct: Jennifer ate, drank, and danced.
 With Adjectives:

Incorrect: Joe thought Sherry was beautiful, smart, and had a good heart.
Correct: Joe thought Sherry was beautiful, smart, and compassionate.

 With ing Forms:

Incorrect: It’s important to be good at reading, writing, and be a good listener.
Correct: It’s important to be good at reading, writing, and listening.

 With Infinitive Forms:

Incorrect: I love to snowboard, go skiing, and to hike.
Correct: I love to snowboard, to ski, and to hike. or I love to snowboard, ski, and hike.

 With Coordinate Conjunctions:

Incorrect: I love to canoe, to fish, and music.

Explanation: The first two items in the list are actions (canoeing and fishing). The last (music) is not.
How can we change the last one into an action?

Correct: I love to canoe, to fish, and to listen to music.

 With Phrases Or Clauses:

Phrases or clauses must also be presented in a parallel form.

Incorrect: When Paul woke up in the morning, he fed his cat, had a shower, and his breakfast was
toast with peanut butter.

Explanation: This sentence contains three actions that Paul performed: feeding his cat, having a
shower, and eating breakfast. The first two actions begin with a verb, but the last begins with a noun
(breakfast).

Correct: When Paul woke up in the morning, he fed his cat, had a shower, and ate toast with
peanut butter for breakfast.

Incorrect: The teacher expected that assignments would be handed in on time, that the material
would be covered, and there are no spelling mistakes.

Correct: The teacher expected that assignments would be handed in on time, that the material
would be covered, and that there would be no spelling mistakes.

 With Clauses Or Phrases Of Comparison:

Phrases or clauses of comparison, with words such as like or as, must also be parallel.
Incorrect: I would rather watch TV than cards.
Explanation: The first part of the comparison has a verb in the phrase and the second part of
the comparison doesn’t.
Correct: I would rather watch TV than play cards.

EXERCISE 6
Circle the response that correctly completes the sentence in a parallel manner.

1. The hotel was beautiful, the service was impeccable, and ______________________
a. the food was delectable. b. I have never tasted better food in my entire life.
2. Greg couldn’t decide whether to enroll in chemistry ______________________
a. or pursue art. b. or pursuing art.
3. I like finding a good trout stream, setting up camp, and ______________________
a. to spend a couple of days fishing. b. spending a couple of days fishing.
4. She likes ______________________ and reading the latest novels.
a. listening to music b. to listen to music
5. The dog was excited: running, barking, ______________________
a. and he chased after the boys. b. and chasing after the boys.
6. The student wrote his essay quickly, accurately, ______________________
a. and thoroughly. b. and in a detailed manner.
7. The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations,
______________________
a. and correct spellings. b. and looking up correct spellings.
8. The house had many windows, six rooms, ______________________
a. and two fireplaces. b. and fireplaces.
9. He would rather watch a movie than ______________________
a. hockey. b. play hockey.
10. Getting my online coursework finished is more important ____________________
a. than watching television. b. than television.