Types ofSentences
Created By, Ms. Jennifer Duke
There are threebasic types ofsentences: 1) Simple Sentences2) Compound Sentences3) Complex Sentences
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence consists of a singleindependent clause (IC), which itselfcontains a subject (noun) part, apredicate (verb) part, and anappropriate mark of punctuation. (Anobject part, which generally followsthe predicate part, is optional.) Simplesentences can range from very shortto very long independent clauses.
Examples ofSimple Sentences
Lisa drove.
Lisa drove her car from Minneapolisto Milwaukee.
Lisa drove her 13-year-old, rustyMustang, which had 150,000 milesand no air conditioning, fromMinneapolis to Milwaukee on asteamy July day.
CompoundSentence
A compound sentence consists oftwo or more independent clauses(IC’s). These clauses areconnected either with a semi-colon or with a comma andcoordinating conjunction such asfor, and, nor, but, or, yet, so(think "fanboys" to rememberthese).
Examples ofCompound Sentences
Toby wanted to become adoctor; he applied tomedical school.
Toby wanted to become adoctor, so he applied tomedical school.
Complex Sentence
A complex sentence consists ofone independent clause (IC)connected to one or moredependent clauses (DC’s). Adependent clause, like anindependent clause, contains asubject and a predicate;however, the dependent clausebegins with one of the followingwords: as, after, although,because, if, since, or while.
Examples ofComplex Sentences
oBecause I couldn't fallasleep last night, I'm verytired today.
oI'm very tired todaybecause I couldn't fallasleep last night.
Directions: Identifywhether each of thefollowing sentencesis simple, compound,or complex.
#1
The snow bank istall.
#2
I ate the yellowsnow, and I got sick.
#3
Because I ran into atree while sledding, Igot a concussion.
#4
After I woke up thismorning, I brushedmy teeth.
#5
I went snowshoeingin the mountains.
#6
Snowboarding is myfavorite sport.
#7
The coldtemperature gaveme frostbite; myfingers almost felloff.
#8
Dogs pull sleds inAlaskan dog sledraces.
#9
As I started a fire inmy igloo, I noticedthat the walls beganto melt.
#10
It was cold in thehouse, so I started afire in the fireplace.
#11
I turned on thecomputer.
#12
I jumped in the snowbank.
#13
My stomach was full,but I still ate anotherslice of pizza.
#14
I wanted to buy theblue sweater, yet mybrother wanted meto buy the redsweater.
#15
As I drifted off tosleep, snow felllightly outside of mywindow.
Answers
#1
The snow bank istall.
Simple
#2
I ate the yellowsnow, and I got sick.
Compound
#3
Because I ran into atree while sledding, Igot a concussion.
Complex
#4
After I woke up thismorning, I brushedmy teeth.
Complex
#5
I went snowshoeingin the mountains.
Simple
#6
Snowboarding is myfavorite sport.
Simple
#7
The coldtemperature gaveme frostbite; myfingers almost felloff.
Compound
#8
Dogs pull sleds inAlaskan dog sledraces.
Simple
#9
As I started a fire inmy igloo, I noticedthat the walls beganto melt.
Complex
#10
It was cold in thehouse, so I started afire in the fireplace.
Compound
#11
I turned on thecomputer.
Simple
#12
I jumped in the snowbank.
Simple
#13
My stomach was full,but I still ate anotherslice of pizza.
Compound
#14
I wanted to buy theblue sweater, yet mybrother wanted me tobuy the red sweater.
Compound
#15
As I drifted off tosleep, snow felllightly outside of mywindow.
Complex