Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Form B John Langan Sentence Variety I Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Form B John Langan

Sentence Variety There are, in fact, four different kinds of sentences. A good writer will vary the kinds of sentences he or she uses in an essay. This prevents their writing from seeming boring and redundant, and it keeps the reader interested. Hence, it is important to learn the four types of sentences, and to understand how to use them.

Simple Sentence A simple sentence has a single subject-verb combination. For example: Joe runs. The dog ate my homework. A simple sentence can have more than one subject, more than one verb, or several subjects and verbs.

Compound Sentence A compound sentence is made up of two or more simple sentences. Usually, the two complete statements are connected by a comma and a joining word. For example: The dog ate my homework, so I am in trouble. Jo-Jo was in Tuscon, and Loretta was in San Diego.

Complex Sentence A complex sentence is made of a complete simple sentence and a statement that begins with a dependent word (such as: although, before, that, which.) For example: The dog ate my homework, although I told him not to. Jo-Jo was in Tuscon, which is very strange.

Compound-Complex Sentence A compound-complex sentence is made up of two (or more) simple sentences and at least one dependent statement. For example: Before my dog arrived, I always handed in my homework, and I always got perfect grades. Unless you come over here, Jo-Jo will go back to Tuscon, and Loretta will start to cry.