Types of Sentences

Or How To Really Impress People

With Your Sentence Variety
 Types of Sentences
• Sentences are classified according to the number
and kinds of clauses they contain. There are four
types:
• Simple
• Complex
• Compound
• Compound-Complex

Let’s look at each one of these more closely.

 Types of Sentences
The Simple Sentence
A simple sentence has only one independent
clause and no subordinate clauses.

S V DO ADV
The runner won the race easily.
 Types of Sentences

The Compound Sentence

A compound sentence has two or more
independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.
S V ADV S V DO ADV
The runner trained for many months, so he won the race easily.
 Types of Sentences
The Complex Sentence
A complex sentence has one independent clause
and one or more subordinate clauses.

S S V ADV V DO ADV
The runner, who had trained for many months, won the race easily.
 Types of Sentences
The Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence has two
independent clauses and one or more subordinate
clauses.
S S V ADV V DO ADV
The runner, who had trained for many months, won the race easily,
S V DO
but she did not attain a personal best.
 Types of Sentences
It may be helpful to remember them in this way:

Type of Independent Subordinate

sentence Clauses Clauses
Simple One None

Compound Two or more None

Complex One One or more

Compound- Two or more One or more

Complex
 Types of Sentences
Identify the sentence type in the following:

She smiled sweetly, and he grinned shyly. Compound

Mary and Tom agreed to meet after school. Simple

I had a poor background, and the subject was quite

difficult; however, the teacher explained the concepts
very clearly. Compound
 Types of Sentences
Identify the sentence type in the following:

Because the store was closed, we returned home. Complex

The old prospector was discouraged; however, when I

suggested giving up, he was indignant. Compound-complex

Although my friends were lost for a while, they eventually

found the restaurant that you recommended. Complex