English 9
Sentences: An Overview
Quick Refresher on Clauses
A clause is a group of related words. A clause has both a subject and a verb.
There are two types of clauses!
An Independent Clause can stand alone as a sentence.
Example: We walk to school.
This sentence expresses a complete thought and can stand on its own.
A Dependent Clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Example: When the cake is done baking
This clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand own its own. (When you try to use a dependent clause as a complete sentence, you create a “sentence fragment.”)
Four Types of Sentences
1. A Simple Sentence is “simply” one Independent Clause. It has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own.
Example: Ruth is a vegetarian.
Example: I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.
(Tip: If you only use simple sentences, your writing will become choppy and redundant.)
2. A Compound Sentence contains two or more Independent Clauses.
The two (or more) sentences are combined to make one sentence, but they need a semi-colon or a conjunction to join them. This is where our coordinating conjunctions come in! Note that when you use a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence, you need to use a comma before the conjunction.)
· For
· And
· Nor
· But
· Or
· Yet
· So
Example: Mark Twain wrote fiction, and T.S. Elliot wrote poetry.
Example: Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
(Remember: When we try to join two independent clauses without using a semi-colon or coordinating conjunction, we create the dreaded “run-on sentence”!)
3. A Complex Sentence is an Independent Clause and one or more Dependent Clauses.
It can start either with the Dependent Clause or the Independent Clause.
Dependent Clauses begin with our Subordinating Conjunctions, such as the following:
English 9
After
Although
As
Because
Before
Even though
If
Since
Though
Unless
Until
When
Whenever
Whereas
Wherever
While
English 9
4. A Compound-Complex Sentence consists of two or more Independent Clauses and one or more Dependent Clauses.
Example: Although they went to the concert last night, Caroline finished her essay, and Stephen
passed his test.
Can you identify the dependent and independent clauses in the above sentences? (There are three total clauses.)
Summarizing Sentence Types
Sentence Type / It contains: / ExampleSimple Sentence / 1 Independent Clause / The whistle blew.
Compound Sentence / § Independent Clause; Independent Clause.
-or-
§ Independent Clause, (and, but, so, yet, for, nor) Independent Clause. / The whistle blew, but no one listened.
Complex
Sentence / § Independent Clause Dependent Clause.
-or-
§ Dependent Clause, Independent Clause. / When the whistle blew, everyone stopped.
Compound-Complex Sentence / 2 or more Independent Clauses &
1 or more Dependent Clauses. / When the whistle blew, everyone stopped, and the factory became silent.
Clauses and Sentence Types: Practice
Independent or Dependent: Write I or D
____1. Although it required patience ____ 3. Even though it was Valentine’s Day
____2. Sonia was at the staff meeting ____4. She studied speech therapy
Read each sentence carefully and circle the type of sentence.
1. When you go to the doctor with a cold or the flu, don't automatically ask for antibiotics.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
2. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and antibiotics don't work to fight them.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
3. If the doctor prescribes antibiotics, follow directions, and take all of the medicine.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
4. When you do not take the medicine as prescribed, you could allow the infection to re-establish itself in your body.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
5. If you take more than one antibiotic, you may increase the chance of resistance to the medication.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
6. Keep current with your vaccinations; this can prevent you from getting infectious diseases and needing the antibiotics.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
7. David Atchison may have been the president of the United States for one day.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
8. Although antibiotics can be life saving, improper use of antibiotics helps develop drug resistance, so many medicines are now ineffective.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex
9. When bacteria is resistant to antibiotics, the only option may be to remove the infection with surgery.
a. simple
b. compound
c. complex
d. compound/complex