Sentence Grammar 2: Sentence Types

Sentence Grammar 2: Sentence Types

There are three basic types of sentences in English. You can decorate these sentences with a number of options, but before you decorate you want to have the basics down.

Type 1. Simple Sentence ( S + V )

Type 2. Compound Sentence ( S+ V + comma + FANBOYS* + S + V)

Type 3. Complex Sentence ( SUB** + S + V + comma + S + V) OR ( S+ V + SUB** + S + V)

*The FANBOYS are coordinating conjunctions. They are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
**SUB means subordinating conjunctions. Common examples are when, while, although, and if. Alist of SUBs is on the back of this handout.

Practice:

Directions: Identify the following sentence types. Write S for simple, CPD for compound, and CPX for complex.

_____ 1. Last night, the boys made spaghetti for their mom for dinner.

_____ 2. After they ate, the boys did their homework.

_____ 3. Jackson did algebra, and Simon did English.

_____ 4. Simon loves his English teacher, but Jackson doesn’t like his.

_____ 5. Jackson doesn’t like his English teacher because the teacher scared him one day.

_____ 6. The teacher asked him to go to the front of the class.

_____ 7. The teacher asked him to create a story and tell it to the class.

_____ 8. Because Jackson is shy, this was really hard for him to do.

_____ 9. Jackson likes his algebra teacher.

_____ 10. Two hours after the boys fell asleep, their mother looked in on them.

_____ 11. The boys were sleeping deeply, so she went to bed, too.

Here is a list of subordinating conjunctions. These conjunctions begin a dependent clause. Remember that a dependent clause must always connect to an independent clause (if you forget this, you have created a fragment). Dependent clauses can begin a sentence or they can end a sentence. Your punctuation will be different depending on which order you choose.

TIME:CAUSECONTRASTCONDITION:

& EFFECT:

after because althoughif

before now thatthough unless

when sinceeven though only if

while in order thatwhereas whether or not

since so while even if

until in case

as

as soon as

by the time

once

as long as

whenever

every time (that)

the first/last/next time (that)

Examples:

DC + COMMA + IC

After we left class, we went to a movie.

Because I want a good grade, I’m going to the Loft.

IC + DC (no comma)

We went to a movie after we left class.

I’m going to the Loft because I want a good grade. (***no comma before because!)