Types of Sentences
Or How To Really Impress People
With Your Sentence Variety
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.
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.
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.
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.
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,
S
V
DO
but she did not attain a personal best.
Types of Sentences
It may be helpful to remember them in this way:
Type of
sentence
Simple
Independent
Clauses
One
Subordinate
Clauses
None
Compound
Two or more
None
Complex
One
One or more
CompoundComplex
Two or more
One or more
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
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
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