Sentence Types (Simple, Compound, Complex, Complex-Compound)

ref –

Dependent and Independent clauses

A simple sentence is a sentence that consists of just one independent clause. For example:

I know the answer.
My dog and my cat sleep together on the sofa.

A simple sentence has no dependent clauses.

For example:
I know the answer because Jack explained it to me. (X)

When the sun is shining through the window, my dog and my cat sleep together on the sofa. (X)

Compound Sentence

Remember that in a compound sentence, ALL simple sentences MUST NOT start with a subordinate conjunction.

Two or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions (FANBOY).


example:

[I have a dog], and [she has a cat].

Notice the comma and the conjunction ‘and’. This is the joining method for a compound sentence.

[I drink green tea], but [they drink coffee].

Jack likes Jill, but Jill likes Mark.

Joining the Independent Clauses in a Compound Sentence

In a compound sentence, the independent clauses are joined using one of the following 5 methods:

(1) a conjunction with a comma (e.g., “, and”)

I like tea, and he likes coffee.

(2) a semicolon
I like hot chocolate; it sends me to sleep.

(3) a colon

I want one thing: war.

(This is rare because the words after a colon are not often an independent clause.)

(4) a dash

I know you’re hereI can smell your perfume.

(5) a conjunction with a semicolon (e.g., “; and”)

After the lights went out, I could hear you whispering; and I know you were talking about me.
(This is rare because it’s an outdated style.)

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence is a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

We must not swim where the seals are.

The monkeys move to the tree when the clouds darken.

When the cake is brown, remove it from the oven.

Notice that the comma is used just like in a compound sentence.
The difference is that we’re not using conjunctions here.

By using “When” we’re creating a dependent clause first and because we have another clause coming up, we use a comma.

Where as in compound sentence, we never use “dependent linking words” as each clause must be independent.

Dependent and Independent clauses

Stay in the bath until the phone rings.

dependent linking word ‘until’.

In these examples of complex sentences, the subordinating conjunctions are highlighted.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Wise men speak because they have something to say.

Fools speak because they have to say something.

Even though he’s a moron, I supported Tyson Fury.

The role of a subordinating conjunction and the dependent clause is to establish a time, a place, a reason, a condition, a concession, or a comparison for the main clause.

A Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

For example:

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when he asked for my autograph in a department store, but I still want to believe in him.

Though Samantha prefers peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, she ordered a pastrami on rye, and she thought it was delicious.

He finished his report for work, but he still needs to fill out the accompanying presentation even though he should have had it done last quarter.

While waiting for the bus, Angela played games on her phone, and Lizzy read a book.

After all this time, I still can’t fathom why he had to make such a big deal of it, but I guess he had his reasons.

As I put the kettle on, I looked in the jar for biscuits, but I couldn’t see any in there.

While Jessica likes rom-coms, Sarah likes thrillers, but Ellie only watches documentaries.

Dependent and Independent clauses

First remember that all clause must have a subject and verb.

Independent Clause

Let’s take a look at an example:

  • The argument (subj) starts (verb)
  • The turtle (subj) eats (verb).
  • She (subj) plays (verb).
  • The ship (subj) sinks (verb).

expresses a complete thought, so it’s an independent clause

Let’s create a sentence with adverbial phrase.

The argument starts when she takes my book.

independent clause (it could stand alone as a sentence) – The argument starts.
Dependent clause (is a dependent clause because it could not stand alone as a sentence.) – when she takes my book.

The secret of life is honesty.

If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.

dependent clause – If you can fake that
independent clause – you’ve got it made

How are they linked?

An independent clause is linked to a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction.

common ones are:

  • “after”
  • “although”
  • “as”
  • “because”
  • “before”
  • “even if”
  • “even though”
  • “if”
  • “provided”
  • “rather than”
  • “since”
  • “so that”
  • “than”
  • “though”
  • “unless”
  • “until”
  • “whether”
  • “while”
  • “how”
  • “that”
  • “what”
  • “when”
  • “where”
  • “which”
  • “who”
  • “whom”
  • “whose”
  • “why”
  • “whoever”
  • “whosever”

Dependent Clause

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

For example:
In the sentence

“The villagers lived happily until the wolves appeared.”

(“Until the wolves appeared” is an example of a dependent clause. It cannot stand alone as a sentence. “The villagers lived happily” is the main clause in this sentence. It is an example of an independent clause because it could stand alone as a sentence.)

A dependent clause supports the main clause of a sentence by adding to its meaning.

Like any clause, a dependent clause has a subject and a verb. In “until the wolves appeared,” the subject is “the wolves” and the verb is “appeared.”

More dependent clauses

…which had surfaced behind them.
…who went to court on Saturday.
…unless Peter helps.
…rather than how valuable it is.

Used as an adverbial clause

Three (subj) can keep (verb) a secret (obj) if two of them are dead.

We are in the adverb position and need to describe the ‘how’ for verb keep.

How? if two of them are dead.

Used as an adjective clause

A person (subj) who never made a mistake never tried (verb) anything (obj) new.

We are in the position of an adjective that describes a subject noun (A person).

Remember, a noun clause is dependent clause. (https://chineseruleof8.com/2024/01/02/noun-clauses/)

Hence, our dependent clause “who never made a mistake” is a noun clause, which acts as an adjective to describe “A person”.

A person who never made a mistake would then be our subject.

As noun clause

Dependent clause are noun clauses, which can be used as subjects or objects

What you are will show in what you do.

Passive Voice (use the past participle)

ref – https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/understanding-the-past-participle/5578371.html

We can use passive voice when we do not know who or what performed the action or when identifying the performer is not important.

In English, the most basic passive voice is formed with be + past participle. Let’s examine the bike example:

My bike was stolen.
Here, the verb “be” appears in the past tense “was.” And “stolen” is the past participle of “steal.”

Listen for be + past participle in this next example:

The dish is cooked over an open fire.

Here, the verb “be” is in the present tense “is.” “Cook” is a regular verb, so its past participle is “cooked.”

essay by owen-01-09

Nell want to get a pet.
Pay attention to the tense which is simple past tense.
Nell wanted to get a pet.

She and her dad went to a pet shop.
Ok!

Every pet have there good thing and bad thing.
Simple past tense!
{There}?! Don’t understand.
{Thing} should be in plural form.
Every pet had good things and bad things.

Her dad and she see the pats. “No, Nell not a pup.”
Simple past tense!
You mean {pets}?
Her dad and she saw the pets. “No, Nell. Not a pup.”

Dad don’t let Nell to have a pup and other.
Simple past tense! Also change {and} into {or} in a negative sentence.
{Other} is an adj. {Others} is a pronoun.
Dad didn’t let Nell to have a pup or others.

Her dad want a bat but it is to expensive.
Simple past tense!
Also pay attention to your spelling.
Her dad wanted a bat but it was too expensive.

Essay by owen-01-08

Stork put soup in a tall jars so the fox can’t eat.
{A tall jar} should be in singular form. Also, use simple past tense.
Stork put soup in a tall jar so the fox couldn’t eat.

Be kind to your friends and they will be kind to you.
Good!

If you be bad they will be bad.
Pay attention to the form of {be} and your punctuation.
If you are bad, they will be bad.

Essay by owen-01-08

The fox and the stork are friend.
Use the plural form here.
Also, pay attention to your tense. Keep using simple past tense when telling a story.
The fox and the stork were friends.

The fox like to play tricks.
{The fox} is the third person singular, so add an -s at the end of the verb.
But I believe you should use simple past tense here.
The fox liked to play tricks.

Be kind to your friend and they will be kind to you.
Use the plural form of {friend} here.
Be kind to your friends and they will be kind to you.

The fox asked stork to dinner.
“Poor Stork! She couldn’t eat a thing.”

You can say {She couldn’t eat anything.}
“Poor Stork! She couldn’t eat anything.”

The fox put the soup in a wide bowl so the stork can’t eat.
Simple past tense!
The fox put the soup in a wide bowl so the stork couldn’t eat.

The next day, Stork asked fox to dinner.
“Poor Fox. He can’t eat a thing.”

You can say {He couldn’t eat anything.}
“Poor Fox! He couldn’t eat anything.”

Essay by owen-01-01

The turtle live is a 20 metres long pond.
{The turtle} is the third person singular, so add an -s at the end of the verb.
Also, you mean {in a pond}?
The turtle lives in a 20 metres long pond.

The turtle’s rear was heard.
{Heard} or {hurt}?
The turtle’s rear was hurt.

Turtle is a kind of exhausting pet.
Ok!

The turtle make me aware how slow they are.
{The turtle} is the third person singular, so add an -s at the end of the verb.
Also, pay attention to the phrase {make sb. aware of sth.}.
The turtle makes me aware of how slow they are.

Vocab by owen-12-31

rear (adj) 后面的
rear (adj) 后面的 (n) 尾部

The rear of the car is big.
The rear of hotel is scary.
The rear of the house is black.

Good!

Vocab by owen-12-30

exhausting (adj) 令人精疲力竭的
That is a exhausting trip.

The first letter of {Exhausting} is a vowel so we use {an} instead of {a}.
That is an exhausting trip.

That is a exhausting sport.
The same problem mentioned above.
That is an exhausting sport.

That is a exhausting pet.
The same problem mentioned above.
That is an exhausting pet.

metres (n) 米
That thing is 10 metres.
The snack is 8 metres long.
The tower is 20 metres high.

Good!

destination (n) 目的地
The hotel is our destination.
The destination is fair.
We have no destination.

Use plural form here.
We have no destinations.

Vocab by owen-12-29

aware (adj) 知道
He make me aware what is pizza.

{He} is the third person singular, so add an -s at the end of the verb.
Also, pay attention to the phrase {make sb. aware of sth.}.
He makes me aware of what is pizza.

He make me aware 1+1 equal two.
The same problem mentioned above.
Also, express your sentence in English.
He makes me aware of that one plus one equals two.

They make everyone aware what is art.
Pay attention to the phrase {make sb. aware of sth.}
They make everyone aware of what is art.

treadmill (n) 跑步机
I have a treadmill.
A treadmill is big.
I hate to run on treadmill.

Good!