TYPES OF

SENTENCES
ACCORDING TO
STRUCTURE
SENTENCE TYPES

Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound-
Complex
Contains one INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
Example:
Mary plays tennis.

SUBJECT PREDICATE

Mary plays tennis.

one subject one predicate

Tom and Mary play tennis.

Tom and Mary play tennis.

Predicate
Compound Subject

&
Tom and Mary play tennis and swim.

Tom and Mary play tennis and swim.

Compound Subject Compound Predicate

& &
 We were lost in the woods.
 John and his brother looked at the
problem.
 Alicia goes to the library and studies
every day.
 John and his brother looked at the
problem and spotted the solution.
 Her mother went to the trade show, but
Doreen stayed home.
COMPOUND SENTENCE
- Contains two or more independent
clauses joined by a:

- Coordinating conjunction or
Semicolon
COMPOUND SENTENCE:
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

FOR
AND
NOR
BUT
OR
YET
SO
COMPOUND SENTENCE
Tom swims and Mary plays tennis.
Tom swims,

and

Mary plays tennis.

 He is famous, yet he is very humble.
 The snow fell; winter was now upon us.

 Her mother went to the trade show, but Doreen

stayed home.
 They studied for an hour and they ate dinner
around nine.
 Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.
COMPLEX SENTENCE
 One independent clause joined with 1 or more
dependent clause
- Dependent clause starts with a subordinating
conjunction:

 since, because, before, after, although, when, until,

while, etc.
COMPLEX SENTENCE

 We built a campfire after the sun set.

Independent Dependent
Clause Clause
EXAMPLES OF COMPLEX SENTENCES

After saying goodbye to everyone,

Brian got into the taxi and went to
the airport.
Independent Clause
EXAMPLES OF COMPLEX SENTENCES

Dependent Clause

After saying goodbye to everyone,

Brian got into the taxi and went to
the airport.
EXAMPLES OF COMPLEX SENTENCES

Dependent Clause

After saying goodbye to everyone,

Brian got into the taxi and went to
the airport.

Subordinator
 The baby woke up when the doorbell
rang.
 I can't help you if you can't tell me
what's wrong.
 He is famous, yet he is very humble.
COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE
 Containstwo or more independent
clauses and one or more
dependent clause.
EXAMPLE:
 Since we wanted to have fun, my boyfriend and I
went to San Juan yesterday, and we danced all
night.
 Tom reads novel, but Jack reads comics because
books are too difficult.
 We won the game, but my uniform was
muddy because it rained the entire time.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE CHART©
TYPE IND. CLAUSE DEP. CLAUSE TRANS.

SIMPLE Only 1 0 N/A

SENTENCE TYPES

COMPOUND 2 or more 0 1/ S/V/I/ ,FANBOYS

S/V/I
2/ ; adv. Conj,
3/ ;

COMPLEX Only 1 1 or more 1/ Ind. CL + Dep. Cl

2/ Dep. CL+,+ Ind.
CL

COMPOUND- 2 or more 1 or more Any of the above

COMPLEX
 Compound-Complex

Kate doesn’t like

cartoons because
they are loud,
so she doesn’t
watch them.

26
 Simple

The clown
frightened
the little girl and
boy.

27
 Compound

The dog
barked and
the baby
woke up

28
 Compound

The clown frightened

the little girl, and she
ran off screaming.

29
 Simple

The Freedom Riders

departed on May 4,
1961.

30
 Compound

The Freedom Riders

departed on May4,
1961, and they were
determined to travel
through many
southern states.

31
 Complex

Before you finish the

first assignment, take
a break.

32
 Complex

After dinner,
the baby woke
up his mother
with a loud
yell.

33
 Compound-Complex

When I grow up, I

want to be a
ballerina, and my
mom is proud of
me.

34
 Complex

When I grow up, I

want to be a doctor.

35
Any
Questions?

37
 Indicate if the following sentences are:
Simple, compound, complex or compound-complex.

1. Because Kayla has so much climbing experience , we

asked her to lead our group.
2. You and I need piano lessons.
3. I planned to go to the hockey game, but I couldn’t get
tickets.
4. Dorothy likes white water rafting, but she also
enjoys kayaking.
5. There are many problems to solve before this
program can be used, but engineers believe that they
will be able to solve them soon.
6. I will get to watch television, but first, I have to clean
up the dishes after we finish eating.
7. Bridget ran the first part of the race, and Tara biked
the second part.
8. He stands at the bottom of the cliff while the climber
moves up the rock.
9. The boy turned and jumped.
10. Neo passed the test because he studied hard and he
understood the material.
 ANSWERS
1. Complex
2. Simple
3. Compound
4. Compound
5. Compound-complex
6. Compound-complex
7. Compound
8. Complex
9. Simple
10. Compound-complex
 Although Nancy was supposed to turn in her
book report on Thursday, she did not take the
book out of the library until Tuesday.
 The pirate captain lost her treasure map, but she
still found the buried treasure.
 Though Mitchell prefers watching romantic films,
he rented the latest spy thriller, and he enjoyed it
very much.
 The teacher walked into the classroom, greeted
the students, and took attendance.
 All soil samples have been taken, and they have
been dried in the lab to remove any remaining
water.
 Juan played football while Juanita went
shopping.
 Do you want to go swimming tomorrow, or would
you prefer to play tennis?
1. Barbara and Joanne whispered and giggled all night.
2. Those clouds promise rain, so we should hurry up and
leave before we get caught in a flash flood.
3. Since we had only gone a mile from camp, we decided
to return before dark.
4. John went to school today but Mark remained home.
5. I’ll help you if you help me.
6. While I was doing my homework, my mother cooked
the dinner because my father was asleep in front of the
television.
7. I’m so pleased that you can come to my party.
8. I have not seen my grandmother since I came to Paris.
9. The principal walked into the faculty, greeted the
teachers and gave them something to eat.
10. There are many problems to solve before this program
can be used, but engineers believe that they will be
able to solve them soon.