Grammar Types of Sentences

Simple Sentence  One independent clause  AKA- One main clause  The boy ran.  The lonely boy ran quickly.  The silly goldfish swirled stylishly around the pond.  It does not matter how many modifiers you add to it. It is still one independent clause!

Compound sentence  Two or more independent clauses  Joined using a conjunction and a comma  A semicolon  A colon  A dash  A conjunction with a semicolon

examples  I went to the store, but I forgot to buy milk.  There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed.  Go, and never dirty my towels again.  I studied for my test; however, I still failed. (Note: Go is the shortest sentence in English.) Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do.

Complex sentence  A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.  An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence.

Examples  Stay in the bath until the phone rings.  The car swerved to miss Mrs. Jackson, who had slipped off the pavement.  Both the cockroach and the bird would get along very well without us, although the cockroach would miss us most.  The human brain never stops working until you stand up to speak in public

Compound-Complex Sentences  A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Examples  Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go with.  We decided that the movie was too violent, but our children, who like to watch scary movies, thought that we were wrong.

Punctuation

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction that connects two independent clauses.  Remember, an independent clause is a group of words that CAN stand alone as a sentence. It is also called a main clause. It expresses a complete thought.  Remember, a coordinating conjunction is one of the FANBOYS acronym

Three ways to connect independent clauses….  1- insert a comma and a coordinating conjunction between the clauses.  Alex is a good writer. He writes vividly about his experiences.  Alex is a good writer, and he writes vividly about his experiences.

 2- Insert a semicolon between the two clauses.  Alex is a good writer; he writes vividly about his experiences.  Insert a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb between the two clauses.  Alex is a good writer; however, he often forgets proper punctuation.

 After an introductory group of words and before the main clause, add a comma.  This includes subordinate clauses  After 2 or more prepositional phrases  After an introductory participle phrase (or absolute phrase)  Because I forgot my homework, I received a zero for the assignment.  Under the bed behind the mess, the monster was lurking.  Shivering in the cold, Lucy pulled her coat tighter across her chest.

 Add a comma whenever you want your reader to pause!!!!