Four Kinds of

Sentence Structures
Simple Sentence
Compound Sentence
Complex Sentence
Compound-Complex Sentence

Simple Sentence
One Independent clause
A subject and a predicate (verb)
Ex: Christopher Columbus sailed for
Spain.
Independent Clause
Can be on its own just
like this lady.

Compound Sentence
Two independent clauses joined by a
conjunction and separated by a comma
Conjunctions: FANBOYS
For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Ex: John Cabot reached the east coast of

North America, but he never made it
back to England.

Compound Sentence
2 independent
clauses can be on
their own like these
people, but choose
to be together. A
compound sentence
is joined by a
conjunction and a
comma. These
people are joined by
their hands.

Complex Sentence
Independent clause and a dependent
clause
The dependent clause begins with a
subordinate conjunction such as if,
since, as, when, so, while, although,
after, before, because
Because Portugal found a sea route to
Asia, it gained control of trading.
Portugal gained control of trading
because it found a sea route to Asia.

Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is like a parent and
a child. The parent is independent, and
the child is dependent.

Kinds of Sentences
Declarative: a statement.
Imperative: command
Exclamatory: shows emotion!
Interrogative: question?

Compound-Complex
Sentence
Two independent clauses joined by a
conjunction and a comma PLUS one
dependent clause
After Rayna got her Ph.D., she got a
great job, and she bought a new car.
Michael walked the dog, and Susanna
mowed the lawn before the guests
arrived.

Compound-Complex
Sentence
While I cleaned the house, James washed
the dog, and April did the laundry.
Bobby studies every night, and he does all
his homework because he wants to make
good grades in school.

Look at Four Kinds of

Sentences Plus Sentence
Structures Worksheet
Read the simple sentences.
Circle the subject and underline the verb
in each sentence.
Highlight the word or punctuation that
helps you figure out the kind of sentence.

 Read the compound sentences.

Circle the comma and conjunction.
Underline both independent clauses.
Highlight the word or punctuation that helps
you figure out the kind of sentence.

 Read the complex sentences.

Underline the independent clause once.
Underline the dependent clause twice.
Circle the dependent word.
Highlight the word or punctuation that
helps you figure out the kind of sentence.

Identify these sentences

1. When I took swimming lessons, I
learned how to dive, and I learned how
to do the backstroke.
2. I cant wait to go to the beach this
weekend.
3. If you went swimming with me, I would
love it!
4. When do you want to go to the beach,
and where do you want to go?

 When do you want to go to the beach,

and where do you want to go?
compound and interrogative

 I would love it if you went swimming with

me!
If you went swimming with me, I would
love it!
Complex and exclamatory

Writing
Try to write different kinds of sentences
with different sentence structures on your
worksheet.
Use summer as your topic.