Compound, Complex: which is which?

First things first… What is a clause? A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two kinds of clauses…

An independent clause… Has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought Tony likes to sing opera.

Until it’s time for dinner A dependent clause… Has a subject and a verb, but does not express a complete thought. Until it’s time for dinner

There are four basic sentence types… Simple Compound Complex Compound/complex

Simple sentences …are independent clauses. Have a subject and a verb and express a complete thought. Mrs. Albaugh corrected the tests. May have compound subject… Mrs. Albaugh and Mrs. Boyko corrected the tests. May have a compound predicate… Mrs. Albaugh corrected the tests and put them in a file. May have both. Mrs. Albaugh and Mrs. Boyko corrected the tests and put them in the file.

Compound sentences Independent + independent clause Use coordinating conjuctions… For And Nor But Or Yet So

Examples of compound sentences My dog’s name is Elmer, and my iguana’s name is Phoebe. Most of the time they get along well, but sometimes Elmer chases Phoebe. Is this correct? My dog’s name is Elmer; my iguana’s name is Phoebe. Yes – you can punctuate either way.

Complex sentences Independent + dependent clause Uses subordinating conjunctions There are lots: although, until, however, because, since, and many, many more!

Examples of complex sentences Although Emily was hungry, she waited until dinner to eat. Emily waited until dinner to eat although she was hungry.

Compound Complex sentences Two or more independent clauses +one or more dependent clauses. While she was fishing, Amy saw many deer, and she tried not to disturb them. Amy unhooked the salmon from the line, and she threw it back into the stream so that it could live.

While she was fishing, Amy saw many deer, and she tried not to disturb them. Amy unhooked the salmon from the line, and she threw it back into the stream so that it could live.

Remember these formulas: Ind + ind clause = compound sentence Ind + dep clause = complex sentence Ind + ind + dep = compound/complex sentence.

What kind of sentence is this? Tony likes to sing opera until it’s time for dinner. Complex!

What kind of sentence is this? His name was Jerry; he was twelve years old, and he had been at the orphanage since he was four. Compound/Complex!

What kind of sentence is this? Each memory brought Hamed’s name to Nadia’s lips, but she stilled the sound. Compound!

What kind of sentence is this? Someone was knocking at my door, loudly and angrily. Simple!