1. English B50
Sentence Types

2. Parallel Sentence Structure
Parallel structure (also called parallelism) is the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence. By making each compared item or idea in your sentence follow the same grammatical pattern, you create a parallel construction.
Not Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, the rodeo, and to take afternoon naps.
Parallel: Ellen likes hiking, attending the rodeo, and taking afternoon naps. OR Ellen likes to hike, attend the rodeo, and take afternoon naps.

3. Practice
Read the following example sentences and revise any that do not use parallel structure. Remember that there are many ways to revise a sentence to reflect parallel structure; if possible, rewrite each incorrect sentence in more than one way.
I would rather eat potatoes than to eat rice.
Global warming affects humans, the environment, and is scary.
It's harder to do long division than dividing with a calculator.
Pirates ransacked the mansion, but they didn’t steal all the silver.
Merchants receive either money or trade goods with their clients.
Bruce Wayne enjoys donning his Batman costume, answering the Commissioner's phone calls, and saving Gotham City from cruel villains like the Penguin.

4. Sentence Types
All of the sentences you produce in your writing will fall into one of four different sentence types.
Simple
Complex
Compound
Compound-complex

5. Sentence Types
We use a variety of sentence types to add to the sophistication of our writing.
Using different sentence types keeps your writing from becoming too monotonous or boring to read.

6. Simple Sentences
The simple sentence consists of one independent clause by itself. (IC)
My aunt enjoyed taking the hayride with you.
Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.
China's Han Dynasty marked an official recognition of Confucianism.
Remember that independent clauses have a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete thought.

7. Compound Sentences
Compound sentences have two independent clauses joined by a fanboy or coordinating conjunction. (IC, cc IC)
The clown frightened the little girl, and she ran off screaming.
The Freedom Riders departed on May 4, 1961, and they were determined to travel through many southern states.
Mushrooms grow in damp places, so they look like umbrellas.
Remember that the coordinating conjunction you choose should match the content of your clauses.

8. Complex Sentences
Complex sentences have one independent clause and one dependent clause. (IC DC or DC, IC)
Even though Edward is a vampire, he is a gentleman.
I love Anna Nalick’s music because she writes such poetic lyrics.
After Jacob added up all the sales, he discovered that the lemonade stand was 32 cents short.
Remember that clauses are made dependent with subordinating conjunctions.

9. Compound-Complex
Compound-complex sentences have at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. They can come in any order.
Although thought to be indestructible, the Twin Towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001, and that forever changed the NYC skyline.
John went to school, but James remained at home because he had a sore throat.
Those clouds promise rain; we should hurry before we get caught in a flash flood.

10. Activity Get into groups of four.
You’ll need one piece of paper for each group.
I’ll ask each group member to contribute one part of a sentence before passing the paper on to the next group member, who will contribute another part, and we’ll continue until the sentence is done.
When the sentences are complete, I’ll ask one group member to come write the sentence on the board so we can make sure they’re correct.

11. Complex
IC sc

12. Compound IC
,cc

13. Compound-complex IC sc
,cc

14. Compound IC
,cc

15. Complex
DC, IC