Sentence Types

Its simple, but a little complex, which compounds the issue

Laurie Miller

George Mason University

| Last updated April 2013

Lets start with a simple sentence

I bought a book.
This sentence is composed of one independent clause (IC):

Subject = I Verb = bought Object = a book

A sentence composed of only one IC is a SIMPLE SENTENCE (SS).

Now, lets add another clause

While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.

Now we have a two clause sentence.

I bought a book is an independent clause, (IC) and can stand on its own as a
The original clause simple sentence. It expresses a complete thought by itself.

But what about the other clause?

While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.
When considered by itself, the first clause,

my mother drank her coffee, leaves a

while

question in our minds, What happened while your mother drank her coffee?! This clause can not stand on its own as a simple sentence. It requires another clause to a complete its meaning, and, you will recall, is called an

dependent clause (DC).

Complex Sentence (CX)

While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.
This sentence is composed of one independent clause (IC): I bought a book & one dependent clause (DC): while my mother drank her coffee

A sentence composed of one IC and 1 or more DCs is a COMPLEX SENTENCE

Compound Sentence (CP)

I bought a book, and the clerk gave me a receipt.
This (rather boring) sentence is composed of two ICs joined with a coordinating conjunction:

IC1 = I bought a book and = coordinating conjunction IC2 = the clerk gave me a receipt

A sentence composed of two or more ICs with no DCs is a COMPOUND SENTENCE (CP).

Compound-Complex Sentence (CP-CX)

I bought a book, and the clerk, who was dressed as Uncle Sam, gave me a receipt.
This sentence is composed of two ICs, one of them with an adjective clause in the middle of it (which makes it a much more interesting sentence), joined with a coordinating conjunction:
IC1 = I bought a book and = coordinating conjunction IC2 = the clerk gave me a receipt DC1 = who was dressed as Uncle Sam

A sentence composed of two or more ICs with 1 or more DCs is a COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE (CP-CX).

Other explanations:

http://www.mrdaley.com/wordpress/syntax/typesof-sentences/ http://www.teacheranthoney.com/simple-andcompound-sentences.html

http://writingcenter.tamu.edu/2010/composingprocess/editing-revising-proofreading/simplecompound-and-complex-sentences/