English Sentence Structure:
4 Types Of English
Sentences
SIMPLE SENTENCE
A simple sentence contains one independent clause.
Whats an independent clause? Its one subject followed by one verb or verb
phrase. It expresses a single idea.
Examples of simple sentences:
Im happy.
Robert doesnt eat meat.
My brother and I went to the mall last night.
This new laptop computer has already crashed twice.
Notice that a simple sentence isnt necessarily short. The subject can be a single
word like I or Robert, or it can be a double subject like my brother and I, or
it can be multiple words describing a single person/object, like This new laptop
computer.
COMPOUND SENTENCE
A compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by a linking word (and,
but, or, so, yet, however).
Each independent clause could be a sentence by itself, but we connect them with
a linking word:
Im happy, but my kids are always complaining.
Robert doesnt eat meat, so Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him.
My brother and I went to the mall last night, but we didnt buy anything.
This new laptop computer has already crashed twice, and I have no idea why.
Note that each sentence has TWO subjects and TWO verb phrases.
COMPLEX SENTENCE
A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent
clauses.
A dependent clause cannot be a complete sentence by itself.
Im happy, even though I dont make much money.
Robert, a friend Ive known since high school, doesnt eat meat.
My brother and I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and
studied.
This new laptop computer, which I bought yesterday, has already crashed
twice.
COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE
A compound-complex sentence contains 3 or more clauses: 2 independent and at
least 1dependent clause.
Im happy, even though I dont make much money, but my kids are always
complaining since we cant afford to buy the newest toys.
Independent clauses: Im happy and my kids are always complaining
Dependent clauses: even though I dont make much money and since we cant
afford to buy the newest toys
Linking word: but
Robert, a friend Ive known since high school, doesnt eat meat so Barbara
made a special vegetarian dish for him.
Independent clauses: Robert doesnt eat meat and Barbara made a special
vegetarian dish for him
Dependent clause: a friend Ive known since high school
Linking word: so
My brother and I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and
studied because she has a test coming up.
Independent clauses: My brother and I went to the mall last night and my
sister stayed home and studied
Dependent clause: because she has a test coming up
Linking word: while
This new laptop computer, which I bought yesterday, has already crashed
twice; however, I have no idea why.
Independent clauses: This new laptop computer has already crashed twice and
I have no idea why
Dependent clause: which I bought yesterday
Linking word: however
