Johnny Played in the Back Yard All Day Long

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SENTENCES

A simplesentence contains oneindependentclause. The simple sentence may contain many phrases, more than one subject OR more than one verb, but only one clause-an independent clause.

Johnny played in the back yard all day long.

She called me to tell me of the awful tornado.

Lil ran, jumped, hollered, giggled, and slept.

While walking through the park, I saw a bear.

A compoundsentence contains twoindependentclauses which are usually joined by the conjunctions and, but, or, or nor. If the two independent clauses have no conjunction, a semicolon must be used. If commas are used in either independent clause, a semicolon must be used between the two independent clauses.

Verl swung at the ball, but his bat flew through the air.

They went to the new production expecting a great performance, and they were not disappointed.

Jamie likes spaghetti; Annette likes lasagne.

Walking through the rain, Jack was not thrilled with the weather; nor did he wish to vacation here again.

A complexsentence contains onedependentclauseandoneindependentclause. The order of these two clauses in the sentence does not matter. If the dependent clause is first, use a comma. If the independent clause is first, use no comma.

Whenever he has that look on his face, you should be good.

You should behave whenever I seem to be angry.

While you were walking through the park, I was being robbed.

If you want to earn some money, call me tomorrow.

After we attended the basketball game, we ate popcorn.

The dependent clause is sometimes nearly hidden.

I thought youboughtthegroceries. (dependent on the first part to make sense.)

A compound-complexsentence contains atleasttwoindependentclausesandatleastonedependentclause. The order in which these clauses appear in the sentence does not matter.

While I was packing the dishes, I saw a mouse and it saw me.

She read the story while I was napping, and I cannot remember what happened.

I thought I could help you, but I will not have time.

SENTENCES

Sentences are written in four basic forms; for example, we state facts; we ask questions; we command or request action; and we exclaim emotion.

STATEMENT/DECLARATIVE

A statement "declares" a fact. A declarative sentence ends with a period.

The weather has been pleasant today.

Marcy and David were married in April.

Interest rates are lower than usual.

QUESTION/INTERROGATIVE

A question that requires an answer is called an interrogative sentence. A question ends with a question mark.

Did you go to the store this morning?

Do you have any money to do the laundry?

Can you understand the baby when he talks?

COMMAND/IMPERATIVE

A statement of command or a courteous request is an imperative sentence. A question that requires action rather than an answer is also labeled as a command sentence. An imperative sentence ends with a period.

Go to your room.

Please pay your bill.

Will you please pay your bill today.

Turn off the light when you leave the room.

Please do your homework before you come to class.

Will you hand me the salt.

EXCLAMATION

An exclamatory sentence exclaims emotion and is punctuated with an exclamation mark.

Wow!

Help me!

Some sentences may be interpreted as a declarative sentence or an exclamation depending on the reader's interpretation of meaning.

I can't believe it. OR I can't believe it!