Types of Sentences

Learning to vary sentence types in our writing

There are 4 main types of sentences...

• Simple• Compound• Complex• Compound- complex

Review

Remember...Sentences are made up of:• Independent Clauses• Subordinate Clauses

How do we know if a clause is subordinate or independent? Explain.

Once you understand the parts of a sentence, you can create different types of sentences. See the examples below:

a) My dog loves to swim in the pond.b) My dog loves to swim in the pond, but she

refuses to jump off the dock.c) While I read my book on the dock, my dog swims

in the pond.d) The dog swims in the pond, but she won’t jump

off the dock which is located in the middle.

Making Different Sentences: Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word used to link words, phrases or clauses within a sentence. For example:

And, when, or, but, for, because, while, yet etc.

Before learning the 4 types of sentences, you should review the 2 main types of conjunctions.

Conjunction Types

1) Co-ordinating Conjunctions-Used simply to join the parts of a sentence.Ex. And, but, for, so, nor, or, yetFor example:• Lilacs and violets are usually purple.(joining subjects)• Daniel's uncle claimed that he spent most of his

youth dancing on rooftops and swallowing goldfish.(joining phrases)

Conjunction Types

2) Subordinating Conjunctions-Introduces a ‘subordinate clause’ and indicates the

relationship between the independent and the subordinate clause. In other words, a subordinating conjunction will determine primary and secondary information.

Ex. after, although, as, because, if, since, than, etc.For example:Gerald had to begin his thesis over again when his computer

crashed. After she had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent.

Can you tell if it is a subordinating or co-ordinating conjunction? Explain.

• Jane wanted to go to church but she knew she could not make it on time.

• Since she did not make it, Jane got groceries. • Jane took longer to finish groceries than she

had expected.• The bank was closed so she decided to just go

home.

1) Simple Sentences

a) (My dog loves to swim in the pond.)

A simple sentence expresses one complete thought using one independent clause.

Why use simple sentences?

• They are easy to read and understand• They improve clarity and make writing concise• They can be used to create or reinforce

repetitionBUT...• They may make writing sound ‘choppy’• They can make writing seem immature• They give limited information

2) Compound Sentences

b) (My dog loves to swim in the pond), but (she refuses to jump off the dock.)

A compound sentence has 2 independent clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction.

*Remember, each independent clause must be a complete thought.

Why use compound sentences?

• They provide additional information • They sound more advanced than simple

sentences• They describe two ideas that are of equal

importance

3) Complex Sentences

c) (While I read my book on the dock), (my dog swims in the pond.)

A complex sentence has one independent and at least one subordinate clause (incomplete thought).

Why use complex sentences?

• They include additional information• They reinforce which ideas are more

important than others• They sound more advanced than simpleBUT...• They can be difficult to read and hard to

understand

4) Complex- Compound

d) (The dog swims in the pond), but (she won’t jump off the dock) (which is located in the middle.)

A compound-complex sentence contains two independent clauses and at least one subordinating clause.

Why use compound complex?

• They are advanced• They provide additional information• They determine which ideas are most

important (subordinate vs. independent)

Can you tell which type of sentence this is?

• Mark and Annie left for Florida.

Can you tell which type of sentence this is?

• Although students often lose their cell phones at school, they continue to bring valuables to class.

Can you tell which type of sentence this is?

• The tires still had enough air, so she decided to keep biking.

Can you tell which type of sentence this is?

• The sky changed to a light green colour and the animals became very quiet because the storm was approaching.