1. Or How To Really Impress People With Your Sentence Variety
Types of Sentences
Or How To Really Impress People With Your Sentence Variety

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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,
but she did not attain a personal best. S V DO

7. Types of Sentences It may be helpful to remember them in this way:
Type of sentence
Independent Clauses
Subordinate Clauses
Simple
One
None
Compound
Two or more
Complex
One or more
Compound-Complex

8. 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

9. 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