Types of Sentence

Types of Sentences in English

There are four different types of sentences in the English language. They are:

• Simple sentences

• Compound sentences

• Complex sentences

• Compound-complex sentences

We can identify each sentence type by looking at the clauses. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb; they are the building blocks of sentences. There are two major clause types in English: independent clauses and dependent clauses.

We now know that sentence types vary depending on the clauses, and we know what the two types of clauses are. So, let's look at how we identify each sentence type.

• Simple sentences - Contains an independent clause.

• Compound sentences - Two independent clauses joined together with a conjunction (joining word).

• Complex sentences - Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• Compound-complex sentences - Contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Fig 1. Varying your sentence types can make your writing more engaging

Types of Sentences with Examples

Now that we know the different types of sentences let's look at each one in more detail and provide some examples.

Simple sentences

As the name suggests, this sentence type is the most simplistic of the three. It is made up of just one independent clause. Simple sentences can also contain modifiers and an object, but these aren't necessary for the sentence to make sense.

Examples of simple sentences

Here are some examples of simple sentences:

Remember that independent clauses always have a subject and a verb. We can see this in the previous sentences. For example, in the first sentence, 'train' is the subject, and 'leaves' is the verb.

Simple sentences are often used to communicate things clearly. The sentences do not need added information and make sense on their own.

Compound sentences

Compound sentences combine two or more independent clauses (main clauses), joining them with a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon (;).

Compound sentences do not contain dependent clauses (clauses that rely on the rest of the sentence). If the two (or more) independent clauses weren't joined together, they would still work independently as simple sentences. Each independent clause must contain its own subject and verb.

Let's break down a compound sentence, explaining all the aspects that make it a compound sentence.

Examples of compound sentences

Here are some examples of compound sentences:

Complex sentences

Complex sentences are slightly different from the other two types of sentences as they include a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) and an independent clause.

The dependent clause adds extra information about the independent clause and cannot stand on its own as a complete thought. However, the dependent clause must still contain a subject and a verb. The two clauses are joined together using subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.

Examples of compound sentences

Let's look at some examples of complex sentences. In the following sentences, the independent clauses are in blue, the connecting words are in red, and the dependent clauses are in green.

Let's look at the first sentence in more detail. The dependent clause 'it had gone cold' contains a subject and a verb, but doesn't make sense on its own as we wouldn't know what 'it' was referring to.

Compound-complex sentences

This type of sentence is made up of a combination of a compound sentence and a complex sentence - as the name suggests!

Compound-complex sentences contain two (or more) independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. As they can include a lot of clauses, they are usually the longest sentence type.

The rules for linking the clauses together are the same for both compound and complex sentences:

• If we join an independent clause to another independent clause, then we use a comma with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

• If we join a dependent clause to an independent clause, we use a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Examples of complex-compound sentences

Here are some examples of complex-compound sentences. The independent clauses are in blue, the dependent clauses are in green, and the connectives are in red.

Fig 2. Who could blame you for buying this kitten?

Identifying Sentence Types

Now that you've learned the differences between the four sentence types, let's think about how to identify them.

One way of doing this is to look out for the number of independent and dependent clauses:

• A simple sentence is easy to recognise as it has only one independent clause.

• A compound sentence contains two independent clauses and no dependent clauses.

• A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one dependent clause.

• A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

We can also look at the types of connectives used in a sentence:

• Simple sentences don't contain any connectives.

• Coordinating conjunctions are used in compound sentences.

• Subordinating conjunctions are used in complex sentences.

• Both types of conjunctions are used in compound-complex sentences.

Difference Between Sentence Types and Sentence Functions

In this article, we have learned about the four sentence types: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. However, we have to be careful not to confuse sentence types with sentence functions (of which there are also four).

The four sentence functions are:

• Declaratives (statements)

• Interrogatives (questions)

• Imperatives (commands)

• Exclamatives (exclamations)

The difference between the types of sentences covered in this article and the functions of sentences is quite simple. 'Sentence type' refers to the layout and structure of the sentence, whereas 'sentence function' is talking about the content (i.e. what the sentence is used for).

Take a look at this sentence.

This is a simple sentence (sentence type) and is also an interrogative (sentence function). This is because it only contains one independent clause and is an interrogative because it is asking a question.