Sentence Types

Sentence Types

1. Simple Sentences

   • A main clause or piece of information that makes sense on its own
     • Examples
       • Tom ate his dinner
       • The prisoner escaped
       • The student reads books
       • The sun was shinning

2. Compound Senteces

   • Two or more short, simple sentences joined by a connective
     • Examples
       • The sun was shining and the sea was calm
       • It was raining but the man forgot his umbrella
     • The most common connectives in compound sentences are: And; as; but; so; because.

3. Complex Sentences

   • A main clause and a subordinate clause in the same sentence
   • The subordinate clause adds more information to a simple sentence but doesn't make sense on its own. It often tells us how, why, where, or when something happened.
     • Examples
       • Feeling happy, I walked along the beach.
       • I walked along the beach feeling happy.
       • I walked, feeling happy, along the beach.
   • Comma rules for complex sentences
     • If the sub-clause is first, the comma goes next.
     • If the sub-clause is last, no comma in the text.
     • If the sub-clause is in the middle, comma either side.