Sentence Construction
Simple, Compound, Complex, and Complex Sentences
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence like the one above contains a subject and a verb.
The subject in the sample sentence is the man. The verb in the sentence is went. A simple sentence is expressed as a single independent clause.
Text example
Complex Sentence
First the sentence uses an independent clause then a dependent with no comma.
Because he wanted icecream, the man went to the store.
The sentence above consists of a dependent clause, a comma, then an independent clause.
A complex sentence consists of an independent and dependent clause.
Compound Sentence
Rett is tall; he plays basketball.
Rett is tall; therefore, he plays basketball.
Formula
A. IND +, +c.c+ IND
B. IND+;+IND
C. IND+;+ C.A. +,+ IND
A compound sentence is a sentence with more than one subject or predicate.
Text example
Compound-Complex
His eyes opened wide, as Jonas ate the pudding, and his stomach growled.
His eyes opened wide, and his stomach growled, as Jonas ate the pudding.
A compound complex sentence is a sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
A compound complex consists of two or more independent clauses and a dependent clause.