There are four main types of sentences that we use in the English language, but before we jump into the different sentence types, let’s review independent and dependent clauses.
Independent Clause
- An independent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and forms a complete thought. The subject is the naming part of the sentence (noun), and the predicate is the telling part of the sentence (verb).
- You can learn more about subject and predicate in this post:
Dependent Clause
- A dependent clause is a group of words that is missing either a subject or a predicate or for some reason cannot stand alone as a complete thought.
- This clause is missing information. What does the dog like?
- My dog likes sleeping in my bed.
- “He saw a squirrel” is an independent clause. Adding the subordinating conjunction “because” turns it into a dependent clause.
- My dog barked because he saw a squirrel.
Sentence Type #1: Simple Sentences
- A simple sentence is a group of words that has one independent clause.
Sentence Type #2: Compound Sentences
- A compound sentence has two or more independent clause joined by a coordinating conjunction. A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins the two independent clauses. We put a comma BEFORE the coordinating conjunction.
- Kids often learn the acronym “FANBOYS” to help them remember common coordinating conjunctions. “FANBOYS” stands for for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
Sentence Type #3: Complex Sentences
- A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. The dependent clause usually contains a subordinating conjunction.
- A subordinating conjunction explains the relationship between the two clauses. They often show timing, cause and effect, or a change in location.
Sentence Type #4: Compound-Complex Sentences
- A compound complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
