sentences - simple, compound, and complex -

Advanced Composition for Non-Native Speakers of Englishhttp://eslbee.comSentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

Experienced writers use a variety of sentences to make their writinginteresting and lively. Too many simple sentences, for example, willsound choppy and immature while too many long sentences will bedifficult to read and hard to understand.This page contains definitions of simple, compound, and complexsentences with many simple examples. The purpose of these examples isto help the ESL/EFL learner to identify sentence basics includingidentification of sentences in the short quizzes that follow. After that,it will be possible to analyze more complex sentences varieties.SIMPLE SENTENCEA simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subjectand a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. In the following simplesentences, subjects are in yellow, and verbs are in green.

A. Some students like to study in the mornings.B. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon.C. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

The three examples above are all simple sentences. Note that sentence Bcontains a compound subject, and sentence C contains a compound verb.Simple sentences, therefore, contain a subject and verb and express acomplete thought, but they can also contain a compound subjects orverbs.

Search ESLBEE.COM for essay topics.

Why is it important to knowwhether a sentence is simple,compound, or complex?I believe a writer must know how to define simple,compound, and complex sentences before usingthem consciously. To me, that's so obvious it hardlyneeds stating.

Once a writer knows how to write a simple sentence,it is possible to apply strict mechanical "rules" forwriting both compound and complex sentences. Andwith just these three sentence types, it is possible towrite good essays, with good sentence variety,perfectly acceptable for academic work.

The explanations to the left are followed by"sentence identification" quizzes. Review theresults between quizzes so you completelyunderstand the use of coordinators andsubordinators and punctuation in compound andcomplex sentences.

Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex http://eslbee.com/sentences.htm

1 of 5 12/19/2013 9:34 AM

COMPOUND SENTENCEA compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by acoordinator. The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor, but, or, yet,so. (Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spellsFANBOYS.) Except for very short sentences, coordinators are alwayspreceded by a comma. In the following compound sentences, subjects arein yellow, verbs are in green, and the coordinators and the commas thatprecede them are in red.

A. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried tospeak English.B. Alejandro played football, so Maria went shopping.C. Alejandro played football, for Maria went shopping.

The above three sentences are compound sentences. Each sentencecontains two independent clauses, and they are joined by a coordinatorwith a comma preceding it. Note how the conscious use of coordinatorscan change the relationship between the clauses. Sentences B and C, forexample, are identical except for the coordinators. In sentence B, whichaction occurred first? Obviously, "Alejandro played football" first, and asa consequence, "Maria went shopping. In sentence C, "Maria wentshopping" first. In sentence C, "Alejandro played football" because,possibly, he didn't have anything else to do, for or because "Maria wentshopping." How can the use of other coordinators change the relationshipbetween the two clauses? What implications would the use of "yet" or"but" have on the meaning of the sentence?COMPLEX SENTENCEA complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or moredependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as


2 of 5 12/19/2013 9:34 AM

because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such asthat, who, or which. In the following complex sentences, subjects are inyellow, verbs are in green, and the subordinators and their commas (whenrequired) are in red.

A. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to givethe teacher the last page.B. The teacher returned the homework after shenoticed the error.C. The students are studying because they have a testtomorrow.D. After they finished studying, Juan and Maria went tothe movies.E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after theyfinished studying.

When a complex sentence begins with a subordinator such as sentences Aand D, a comma is required at the end of the dependent clause. When theindependent clause begins the sentence with subordinators in the middleas in sentences B, C, and E, no comma is required. If a comma is placedbefore the subordinators in sentences B, C, and E, it is wrong.Note that sentences D and E are the same except sentence D begins withthe dependent clause which is followed by a comma, and sentence Ebegins with the independent clause which contains no comma. Thecomma after the dependent clause in sentence D is required, andexperienced listeners of English will often hear a slight pause there. Insentence E, however, there will be no pause when the independent clausebegins the sentence.COMPLEX SENTENCES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSESFinally, sentences containing adjective clauses (or dependent clauses)


3 of 5 12/19/2013 9:34 AM

are also complex because they contain an independent clause and adependent clause. The subjects, verbs, and subordinators are marked thesame as in the previous sentences, and in these sentences, theindependent clauses are also underlined.

A. The woman who called my mom sellscosmetics.B. The book that Jonathan read is on theshelf.C. The house which Abraham Lincoln wasborn in is still standing.D. The town where I grew up is in the UnitedStates.

Adjective Clauses are studied in this site separately, but for now it isimportant to know that sentences containing adjective clauses arecomplex.CONCLUSIONAre sure you now know the differences between simple, compound, andcomplex sentences? Click QUICK QUIZ to find out. This quiz is just sixsentences. The key is to look for the subjects and verbs first.Another quiz, this one about Helen Keller contains ten sentences.These quiz sentences based on the short story, The Americanization ofShadrach Cohen, by Bruno Lessing.Quick Quiz: ShadrachAfter each quiz, click GRADE QUIZ to see your score immediately.Remember that with the skill to write good simple, compound, and


4 of 5 12/19/2013 9:34 AM

complex sentences, you will have the flexibility to (1) convey your ideasprecisely and (2) entertain with sentence variety at the same time! Goodluck with these exercises!

Download FREE worksheet to help identify simple, compound, andcomplex sentences:Transitions and Connectors

HOME

Copyright Erlyn BaackEMAIL


5 of 5 12/19/2013 9:34 AM

sentences - simple, compound, and complex -

Documents