Sentence study

Simple, Compound,
Complex, and
Compound-Complex
Sentence
 What is a sentence?
➢ A sentence is a set of words which makes up a complete thought. It
achieves this by following a set of grammatical rules to convey a
statement, question, exclamation or command.

➢ A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop,
question mark or exclamation mark.

➢ Usually, a sentence contains a subject and always contains a verb

(predicate)

What is subject and predicate?

The subject is the who or what of a sentence. It is the person,

place, or thing that is doing an action. In other words, the subject
is what the sentence is about.

For example
o Maria loves dogs.
o The boy climbed a tree.
o The chicken crossed the road.

Phrase

A phrase is a group of words (without a subject and a verb) that

does the same job as a single word; a noun phrase does the job of a
noun, an Adjective phrase does the job of an Adjective, an adverbial
phrase does the job of an adverb, and so on.
 Clauses

A clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb.

There are two kinds of clauses in English: independent clauses and
dependent clauses.

• Independent clause
An independent clause is a complete thought. The meaning is
clear. There are no questions in your mind. An independent clause is
a sentence (S-V-C).

Most students want to stay in school. (The meaning is clear)

Many students have family responsibilities. (The meaning is
clear)

• Dependent clause
A dependent clause is not a complete idea. A dependent clause
often has a S-V-C, but it is not a sentence because the meaning is not
clear. There is a question in your mind. You need more information.

When students miss too many class. What happens?

If a student has serious financial problems. What happens?

Noun clause
A nominal clause (noun clause) functions like a noun or noun
phrase. It is a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb of
its own and contains one of the following: that| if |whether

For example
I wondered whether the homework was necessary.
# Noun clauses answer questions like “who(m)?’’ or “what?”
adverb clause
An adverbial clause (adverb clause) is a word or expression in the
sentence that functions as an adverb; that is, it tells you something about
how the action in the verb was done. An adverbial clause is separated
from the other clauses by any of the following subordinating
conjunctions: after | although | as | because | before | if | since | that |
though | till | unless | until | when | where | while

For example
They will visit you before they go to the airport.

Adverbial clauses can also be placed before the main clause without
changing the meaning.

For example
Before they go to the airport, they will visit you.

Note! When an adverb clause introduces the sentence (as this one does),
it is set off with a comma.

Adverb clauses answer questions like "when?", "where?", "why?"

adjective clause
An adjectival clause (adjective clause or relative clause) does the
work of an adjective and describes a noun, it's usually introduced by a
relative pronoun: who | whom | whose | that | which

For example
I went to the show that was very popular.
Adjective clauses answer questions like "which?" or "what kind of?"
 What is difference between Clause and Phrase?

A clause is a complete thought that contains a subject and a verb.

A phrase is a group of words that modifies the subjects and objects in the
sentence to provide extra information, but it is not a complete thought.
 Simple sentences

Simple sentences: A simple sentence is an independent clause with

no conjunction or dependent clause. (S+V+C)
 A subject
 A verb
 A complete thought

For example

 She wrote.
 Help!
 The pen is mightier than the sword.
 Perhaps the decline of this country has already started.
 The management of your company has executed its duties
excellently.
 People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
 They have lost thousands of jobs to Asia, South America, and
Mexico.
Types of simple sentences

There are two types of simple sentence Depending on

structure, include:

1) Compound Verbs and Compound Subjects

– Some sentences have a single subject and two or more verbs.
Other sentences have a single verb and two or more subjects.

For example:

 The dog barked and ran. (Compound verb)

 Jack and Jill went up a hill. (Compound noun)
 Arnold and Juan play cricket every evening. (Compound noun)
 The cat and the dog yowled and howled, respectively.
(Compound verb) and Compound noun)
 Julia and Mary hired a taxi to airport. (Compound noun)

2) Single Subject and a Single Verb

– This type of simple sentence has only one subject and one
verb.

For example:

 The staff performed well.

 A white shirt always looks sharp.
 He sold it for a high price on Amazon.
 You have to dream to make your dream come true.
 Compound sentences

Compound sentences has two or more simple sentences to make

a longer, (s -v-c + s-v-c)

When we combine two or more simple sentences, the new sentence

is called a compound sentence. (Compound means more than one)

A compound sentence is usually combined with

A. A coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
B. A semicolon alone ( ; )
 Co-ordinating Conjunction

FANBOYS Conjunctions with meanings and sentences

For Because Sam drank some
water, for he was
thirsty.
And In addition to I take milk and sugar
in my tea.
Nor And not Sarah doesn’t like
apples, nor does she
like pears.
But However All the children
wanted to eat pizza,
but no one wanted to
buy it.
Or Either We could go to a zoo,
or we could go to a
theme park.
Yet But The weather was cold
and wet, yet we
enjoyed very much.
So Therefore He is sick, so he is not
going to school.

For example

• Compound Sentences with a Coordinating

Conjunction
 - Simple sentence : I am ready to go.
Simple sentence: my brother has not reached home yet.
New sentence: I am ready to go, but my brother has not
reached home yet.

- Simple sentence : Jerry did not complete his homework.

Simple sentence : the teacher punished him.
New sentence : Jerry did not complete his homework, so the
teacher punished him.

- Simple sentence : My brother should drop me.

Simple sentence : I cannot make it to the reception.
New sentence : My brother should drop me, or I cannot make it
to the reception.

• Compound Sentences without a Conjunction -

Simple sentence : The dress is too tight.
Simple sentence : I am going to buy this.
New sentence : The dress is too tight; I don’t think I am going to
buy this.

- Simple sentence : He likes Marvel movies.

Simple sentence : he would probably watch all of it at one
stretch.
New sentence : He likes Marvel movies; he would probably
watch all of it at one stretch.

- Simple sentence : Try to focus on your studies.

Simple sentence : everyone else is working really hard and
improving their grades.
New sentence : Try to focus on your studies; everyone else is
working really hard and improving their grades.
 Complex sentences

A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent and at

least one dependent clause (sometimes called a subordinate clause)
joined by Subordinating conjunction.

If a sentence begins with a dependent clause, note the comma after this
clause. If, on the other hand, the sentence begins with an independent
clause, there is not a comma separating the two clauses.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Before After As
If In order to Unless
Where When Until
Even though That Then
Rather than Once Since
Although Even if Provided that
Because Why While
So that Whether Whenever
For example;

 Although she completed her literature review, she still needed to

work on her methods section.

 They studied APA rules for many hours as they were so interesting.

 Because he organized his sources by theme, it was easier for his

readers to follow.

 After I got off work, I always go home first to get ready for class.

 When I get to school, I usually go to the library to review my notes.

 Compound-Complex Sentence

compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses

and at least one dependent clause joined by coordinating conjunction.

The dependent clause can be anywhere in the sentence.

For example

- She took out her umbrella because it was raining, and then she
walked home.

- I don't like exercising, but I'll do it if I have to.

- The man who was on the other side of the street waved, so I
looked at him.

- Belinda must be at work early today because there is important

meeting, but she is feeling sick.
Exercise 1 : Identify the kind of clause used in the
following sentences.

1. The jury believed that the man was guilty.

Adjective clause
Noun clause
Adverb clause
2. Come when you like.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
3. I know the girl who won the prize.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
4. He confessed that he was guilty.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
5. I know you have great regard for him.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause๑
6. Do you think that I am a fool?
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
7. Before I die I want to see Venice.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
 8. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
9. I know a boy whose father serves in the army.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
10. I will not go until he arrives.
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
Exercise 2 – Identify the Type of Sentence
Identify whether the following sentences are simple, compound or
complex sentences. Also, mention which of the clauses is the main
clause and the subordinate clause.

1. I did not know that this food was meant only for the staff.
Sentence Type – Complex sentence
Main Clause – I did not know
Subordinate Clause – That this food was meant only for the staff

2. She is innocent, so she has appealed to the court.

3. If you are not ready with the song, it is better to let them know.

4. She will come home or I will stay back at her place.

5. In the evening, I am going to the park.

6. The sun looks amazing today.

7. I remember the day that we met very well.

8. Nithi is not keeping well, yet she decided to go to work.

9. After they reach the hotel, they will inform us.

10. We are going to the park.

Exercise 3 – Combine the Sentences to Form Compound
Sentences
Combine the following sentences using a coordinating
conjunction or a conjunctive adverb to form compound
sentences.

1.My mother is sick. My mother is going to the doctor.

2. Jibin has gone to Hyderabad. Jibin has not found any jobs
yet.

3. Jaffar called me yesterday. I was not able to attend his call.

4. Firoz will pick you up. We will book a cab for you.

5. Nobody knew where to go. We asked some random people

for directions to the hills.
Exercise 4 – Combine the Sentences to Form Complex
Sentences
Combine the following sentences by making use of a
subordinating conjunction or a correlative conjunction to
form complex sentences.

1. You are the only friend. You taught me right from wrong.

2. You do not finish it. You will have to face the

consequences.

3. I don’t think I will be able to make it. I missed the bus.

4. Seetha finishes her work. Seetha will be on her way.

5. I go home. I always like to relax for a while with my

friends.
 Exercise 5 - Underline each main clause once and each
subordinate clause twice.

1. Pam knew where the park was, and she gave us directions.
2. After our team won, we decided to celebrate, so we led a parade
through town.
3. When the committee met, witnesses testified about poor living
conditions, and experts suggested improvements.
4. Sharon has been studying piano since she was six years old, and she
enjoys it.
5. Greg said that we should start without him, but we waited anyway.
 Conclusion
Simple sentence
- Is the most basic.
- Contains only one independent clause.
- Has a subject and a verb.
- Can have only one word.

Examples

• He plays football in the park.

• He loves cats!
• They are very good at painting.

Compound sentence

- Has two independent clauses

- Can be combined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction
or with a semicolon.

Examples
• She completed her literature review, and she created her
reference list.
• You’re very good at singing, so you can join our band.
Complex sentence

- Has a combination of an independent clause and a dependent

one.
- Has one independent clause (simple sentence) and at least one
dependent clause.

Examples
• Since you are good at singing, you can join our band!
• As much as he loves cats, he hates dogs!

Compound-complex sentences

- Two independent clauses joined a coordinating conjunction.

- A dependent clause
- The dependent clause can be anywhere in the sentence.

Examples
• She took out her umbrella because it was raining, and then she
walked home.
• I don't like exercising, but I'll do it if I have to.
• The man who was on the other side of the street waved, so I
looked at him.
 Reference
Effective English Writing (EEW-11) (Sentence study Simple
Compound and Complex). (pp. 11-15) International Language
Academy, Fatoni University.

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