Types of Sentences

Simple Sentences

Simple sentences consist of one independent (main) clause.

The Red Sox won the ALCS on Sunday.

Walking around the park, I found a lost puppy.

Compound Sentences

Compound sentences consist of more than one independent clause but no dependent clauses.

Jimmy likes to eat hot dogs, and he has ice cream for dessert.

Going to the zoo was enjoyable, and seeing the animals was enter-taining.

Complex Sentences

Complex sentences contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Since the semester ended, I’ve been bored because I’ve had little to do.

You know she’s the boss.The woman who took our tickets shorted

us on change because she was distracted by the long line.

Compound-Complex SentencesCompound-complex sentences contain two or

more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

The finals are on Saturday, but we'll have to compete without Paul, who will be in court all day arguing an important case.

Scientists are working on a cure for the common cold and, when they find one, we can only imagine how remarkably it will change the profits of the Kleenex and drug industries.

Ways to Join Sentences

Use a comma and a coordinate conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

I need to go to the store, and I’ll also go to the dry cleaners.

Billy likes going to the movies, but he wants to finish his homework first.

Ways to Join Sentences

Use a semi-colon.

Writing essays is a process; that’s why this essay requires several drafts.

I like to play cards; Hearts is my favorite game.

Ways to Join Sentences

Semi-colons can also be used with conjunctive adverbs.

I think; therefore I am.Eric Gagne finished the game for the

Red Sox; moreover, he faced only three hitters.

Ways to Join Sentences

Change one of the independent clauses to a dependent clause by using a subordinate conjunction.

The students were not looking forward to the exam because they did not enjoy grammar.

Jenny has been really lonely since her boyfriend left for Europe.

Ways to Join Sentences

If the dependent clause introduces the independent clause, use a comma between them.

So that we can conserve energy, we ask you to turn off the lights.

Before you go, don’t forget to ask Peter for his address.

Errors in Joining Sentences

Two independent clauses joined by a comma alone is a comma splice.

I like baseball, it’s a fun sport to watch and a hard one to play.

I like baseball because it’s a fun sport to watch and a hard one to play.

Errors in Joining Sentences

Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation is a run-on (or fused) sentence.

I used this website it was really helpful.

I used this website; it was really helpful.

Parallelism

When similar ideas are presented in the same grammatical structure, the sentence is in parallel structure.

Therefore, it’s important to understand the grammatical structure you are using so that you can use this stylistic device.

Parallelism

He enjoys __________, watching movies, and driving his car.

a. booksb. to read booksc. reading books

What parallel grammatical structure does this sentence use?

Parallelism

He believes in using force and then ____________ if all else fails.

a. to resort to diplomacyb. resorting to diplomacyc. diplomacy

What parallel grammatical structure does this sentence use?

Parallelism

I would rather be known for what I accomplish than _________________.

a. for what I ownb. what I ownc. my belongings

What parallel grammatical structure does this sentence use?

Parallelism

After he got out of the shower, Dan dried his hair, __________, and cleaned his ears.

a. to brush his teethb. brushed his teethc. was brushing his teeth

What parallel grammatical structure does this sentence use?

Parallelism

The watering hole remains open year-round, whether it is in fall, in summer, or ________.

a. winterb. in winterc. during winter

What grammatical structure does this sentence use?

Parallelism

He tried to work hard at both his schoolwork and _________.

a. his jobb. the jobc. work

Parallelism

Carlos wasted his first year at college by choosing _______ and not choosing to study diligently.

a. to party hardb. partyingc. the party

What parallel grammatical structure does this sentence use?