I-2

SENTENCE PATTERNS: SIMPLE, COMPOUND AND COMPLEX

 

A sentence is a group of words which contains a subject and a verb and which expresses a complete idea.  The subject tells who or what the sentence is about.  The verb tells who or what the sentence is about. The verb tells what the subject is doing or what is being done to the subject.

 

                        SUBJECT                               VERB

                        The heavy rains                       ruined our plans.

                        Our television set                    was out of order.

                        Susan                                       teaches English

 

A sentence may either be simple, compound or complex.  All sentences must contain one or more independent clauses.  In other words, all sentences must be able to stand alone.

 

SIMPLE SENTENCES

 

Simple sentences may consist of any of the following patterns.

 

  1. a sentence with only one subject and one verb:

 

            Our team won the softball game.

 

In this sentence, team is the subject and won is the verb.  Since this group of words expresses a complete idea and has a subject and a verb, it is a simple sentence or independent clause.

 

  1. a sentence with more than one subject:

 

Marta and Cary ate at the Hoagie Hut.

 

In this sentence, the subjects are Marta and Cary; the verb is ate.  This sentence consists of a compound subject and a single verb, but because it also expresses only one main idea, it is a simple sentence or independent clause.

 

  1. a sentence with more than one verb:

 

The newsmen watched and waited for the Space Shuttle to lift off.

 

The subject in this sentence is newsmen.  The newsmen did two things: they watched and they waited. The verbs in this sentence are watched and waited. In this sentence, there is only one subject with a compound verb.

 

 

 

  1. a sentence with several subjects and several verbs:

Elaine, Robin, Marta and Cary swam in the morning and played tennis in the evening.

 

The sentence above has four subjects: Elaine, Robin, Marta and Cary, and it has two verbs: swam and played.  This sentence, however, is still a simple sentence (despite having a compound subject and a compound predicate - it is still only one combination of these two elements).

 

EXERCISES: SIMPLE SENTENCES

 

Exercise 1

Write an S next to the words which are simple sentences.  Write an X next to the words which are not sentences.

 

_________1.  Alyssa and Pedro had planned to marry.

_________2.  I have to eat liver.

_________3.  The green chair which is by the door.

_________4.  The student who was talking to Dr. Steinmetz.

_________5.  My favorite color is blue not orange.

_________6.  Rudy and I met at a New Year’s party.

_________7.  Melissa and Katie are Marta’s daughters.

_________8.  To the party that Ariel was giving at his house.

_________9.  Because of the high rate of inflation.

_________10.  Last month, the President announced more budget cutting plans.

 

Exercise 2

Write one simple sentence for each of the following patterns

 

  1.  a sentence with a single subject and a single verb

 

  1. a sentence with a compound subject ad a single verb

 

  1. a sentence with a single subject ad a compound verb

 

  1. a sentence with a compound subject and a compound verb

 

COMPOUND SENTENCES

 

A compound sentence is a sentence that has two independent clauses.  An independent clause is a group of words which has a subject and a verb and which is able to stand alone as a sentence.  When two independent clauses are joined tog her to form one sentence, a compound sentence is created.

 

Here are some examples of two independent clauses joined to form a compound sentence:

 

1.      The little girl behaved, but her brother misbehaved.

2.      My headache became worse, so I took two aspirins.

3.      Carmen arrived late, for her car did not start.

 

To create a compound sentence, join two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction. There are seven coordinating conjunctions:

 

And = addition/also

 

But = opposition

 

For = because

 

Or = choice

 

Nor = none/not

 

So = as a result

 

Yet = nevertheless/but

 

Two independent clauses may also be joined by a semicolon (;).  The semicolon may be used in place of the comma and the coordinating conjunction which are used to join the two independent clauses in a compound sentence.  Look at the following.

 

1.      I prepared well for the test, so I made an “A.”

I prepared well for the test; I made an “A.”

 

2.      John is an architect, but his wife is a demolition engineer.

John is an architect; his wife is a demolition engineer.

 

3.      We missed out flight, for we arrived late to the airport.

We missed our flight; we arrived late to the airport.

 

The first sentence of each group contains two simple sentences (independent clauses) combined into a compound sentence by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.  The second sentence of each group contains two simple sentences (independent clauses) combined into a compound sentence by a semicolon.  In both cases, nevertheless, the sentences remain compound.

 

A semicolon should be used only when the independent clauses being joined are very closely related in thought. That is, when the meaning the sentence will produce is clear.  Following are a few examples:

 

  1. We played racquetball in the morning, and we played tennis in the afternoon.

Or

      We played racquetball in the morning; we played racquetball in the afternoon.

 

  1. Bruce offered Bert to sell him the sunglasses, but Bert refused to buy it.

Or

      Bruce offered Bert to sell him the sunglasses; Bert refused to buy it.

 

  1. Cary will become a teacher, or she will become a lawyer.

 

In sentence number three, a semicolon should not be used to join the two independent clauses (simple sentences) together because the meaning of the sentence will not be clearly understood.

 

      Cary will become a teacher; she will become a lawyer.

 

By reading this sentence, you can see that it is not clear who she refers to.  It could be Cary or someone else.  Also, we do not know if the sentence means that Cary will become a teacher or lawyer, or both.  Because of this, a semicolon should not be used; a comma and a coordinating conjunction should be used instead to make the meaning of the sentence clear.

 

EXERCISES: COMPOUND SENTENCES

Exercise 1:

Combine the following pairs of simple sentences into compound sentences.

 

  1. I studied hard.

Tomorrow I have a difficult exam.

           

 

 

  1. We went to the park for our annual barbecue.

It rained as soon as we arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. The food was delicious.

We ate all of it.

 

 

 

  1. Elaine bought a Lotto ticket.

She won!

 

 

 

  1. I will go with you to the concert.

I will go with Robert to the football game.

 

 

 

Exercise 2:

Write an appropriate coordinating conjunction for each of the following sentences.

 

  1. Alfredo practiced for the basketball game, __________ then he studied for his math test.

 

  1. I usually do poorly in math, __________ I did well in algebra.

 

  1. Elena and Ivonne exercise every day, __________ it makes them feel great.

 

  1. My cat was ill, __________ I rushed him to the veterinarian.

 

  1. I will travel to Mexico this summer, __________ I will stay home and save some money.

 

Exercise 3:

Complete the following sentences by adding an independent clause after each coordinating conjunction.

 

  1. I never eat hot dogs, but ______________________________________________

 

 

  1. She wants to move to California, and ___________________________________

 

 

  1. We decided to take a vacation, for ______________________________________

 

 

  1. I have a test tomorrow morning, so _____________________________________

 

  1. I will purchase a new car, or __________________________________________

 

 

  1. The semester is almost over, so ________________________________________

 

 

  1. My mother-in-law dislikes me, but _____________________________________

 

 

  1. I bought a new outfit for the party, and __________________________________

 

 

  1. Elaine and I have been best friends since the sixth grade, for _________________

 

 

  1. We will work together, or ____________________________________________

 

 

 

Complex Sentences

 

A complex sentence is a sentence made up of two types of clauses: independent and dependent clauses.  The word independent means, “not under control of others; free; separate.”  Therefore, an independent clause is one that is capable of being a sentence.  Look at the following examples:

 

1.      I was very late this morning.

2.      My car needed a new set of tires.

3.      It rained a lot this weekend.

 

A dependent clause is the opposite of an independent clause.  A dependent clause cannot stand alone because it is not a complete sentence.  As the word “dependent” suggests, it is something “needing support or help from another.”  A dependent clause must depend on an independent clause in order to make its meaning complete.  If it does not, the dependent clause becomes a fragment.  A fragment is an incomplete sentence or a part of a sentence.  Look at the following:

 

1.      Because the car would not start.

2.      Since it is time to leave.

3.      After we ate breakfast.

 

These dependent clauses are fragments.  Each is missing an independent clause which would make its meaning complete.

 

A dependent clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction.  The subordinating conjunction is what causes the clause to become an dependent clause.  The moment a subordinating conjunction is placed at the beginning of a clause, that clause can no longer stand alone; it no longer expresses a complete, clear idea.  Following is a list of the most common subordinating conjunctions:

 


 

After

Although

As, as if

Because

Before

Even, even though

If

Since

So that

That

Though

Unless

Until

When, whenever

Wherever

While


 

 

Complex sentences may have the dependent clause coming first or last in the sentence.  When a dependent clause comes first, it is always separated from the independent clause by a comma.  Look at the following sentence.

 

            Because I was hungry, I went to eat lunch.

            (dependent clause)        (independent clause)

 

In this sentence, the dependent clause is because I was hungry.  The clause begins with the subordinating conjunction because, and it comes at the beginning of the sentence.  Since it appears at the beginning of the sentence, it is separated from the independent clause by a comma.  When the dependent clause comes last in the sentence, then no comma becomes necessary.  Look at the following.

 

            I went to eat lunch because I was hungry.

            (independent clause)     (dependent clause)

 

Do not place a comma before the subordinating conjunction because.  Look at the sentences again.

 

            Because I was hungry, I went to eat lunch.

            I went to eat lunch because I was hungry.

 

In the first sentence, the comma appeared after the word hungry.  In the second sentence, after we moved the clauses around, the word hungry became the last word of the sentence.  If we were to place the comma in the second sentence, it should be placed after the word hungry, just like it was in the first sentence.  However, we cannot do so because a sentence cannot end with a comma; it must end with a period.  Thus, no comma is needed when the dependent clause appears at the end of the sentence.  Look at the following additional examples.

 

  1. While we waited for you to arrive, we played gin rummy.
  2. We played gin rummy while we waited for you to arrive.
  1. Even though I was tired, I helped Yanelle with her English homework.
  2. I helped Yanelle with her English homework even though I was tired.

 

Finally, there is one more thing you must consider when you are creating a complex sentence.  You must carefully select the subordinating conjunction.  You must think of the meaning you want your complex sentence to bring across.  The wrong subordinating conjunction may change the meaning you intended.  Study the following.

 

1.      Dinner was great because Elaine cooked it.

 

2.      Dinner was great even though Elaine cooked it.

 

The firsts sentence says that the dinner was great because Elaine, a good cook, had prepared it.  The second sentence, on the other hand, says that the dinner was great despite the fact that Elaine, a poor cook, had prepared it.  As you can see, you must be careful when choosing the subordinating conjunction.  You must be sure to select the conjunction which best gives the meaning you intend.

 

EXERCISES: COMPLEX SENTENCES

Exercise 1:

Turn each of the following groups of sentences into complex sentences.  Select an appropriate subordinating conjunction for each sentence.  Write each combination twice.  The first time, have the dependent clause appear at the beginning of the sentence; the second time, have the dependent clause appear last.  Be careful how you punctuate the sentences.

 

  1. I had read the book.

I could not remember the ending.

 

A. 

 

B.                                                                                                                                            

 

 

  1. These trees will not grow.

They are fertilized.

A.

 

B.

 

 

  1. Doraine left her office.

Shirley arrived.

A.

 

B.

 

 

  1. I will trust you.

You tell me the whole truth.

A.

 

B.

 

 

  1. Yoli sneezed a lot.

She was around too many flowers.

A. 

 

B. 

 

 

 

Exercise 2:

Write an appropriate subordinating conjunction in the blank of each of the following sentences.

 

  1. ____________________ it is raining, Louise is not going to class.

 

  1. I was happy for the winning team ____________________ we had lost the game.

 

  1. The play was cancelled ____________________ very few tickets had been sold by opening night.

 

  1. Begum, clean your shoes ____________________ you enter the house.

 

  1. ____________________ the football game ended, we went out for pizza and beer.

 

 

 

Exercise 3:

Write a complex sentence using each of the subordinating conjunctions listed below.

 

  1. Unless ____________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. If ________________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. __________________________________________________________________

 

while ________________________________________________________________

 

  1. Whenever _________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. __________________________________________________________________

 

since ________________________________________________________________

 

  1. __________________________________________________________________

 

so that _______________________________________________________________

 

  1. Although _________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. As _______________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. __________________________________________________________________

 

because ______________________________________________________________

 

  1. __________________________________________________________________

 

when ________________________________________________________________

 

  1. Until _____________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. After _____________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. __________________________________________________________________

 

before _______________________________________________________________

 

  1. Because __________________________________________________________

 

 

  1. When ____________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Exercise 4:

Decide which of the following are complete complex sentences and which are fragments (dependent clauses).  Write CX next to the complete complex sentences and F next to the fragments (dependent clauses).

 

1.      __________ Because the seminar was most interesting.

 

2.      __________ I had just left when you telephoned.

 

3.      __________ After we had done all the work.

 

4.      __________ Although he is probably very honest.

 

5.      __________ Since heavy rains flooded the area last night.

 

6.      __________ We stayed on the beach until the sun had set.

 

7.      __________ Whenever Ariel eats eggs, he breaks out in a rash.

 

8.      __________ If I were you.

 

9.      __________ We go with them wherever they go.

 

10.  __________ My husband watched the baby so that I could finish preparing dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised by: Javier Dueñas

6-3-02