Online 9.8 Identifying Sentence Types
Sentence Type
Features
Example
Symbol
Simple
One independent clause (can have
compound subject and/or compound
predicate)
Traders and buyers hurry to the center
of town and usually arrive at the same
time.
S
Compound
Two or more independent clauses but
no dependent clause. Independent
clauses may be joined by comma
and coordinating conjunction or
by a semicolon with or without
conjunctive adverb.
The guide dog stopped suddenly, so
he did not fall into the hole.
Rain poured for ten days; therefore,
the festival had to be cancelled.
CD
Complex
One independent clause and one or
more dependent clauses
She read the newspaper because
she wanted to learn more about the
candidates for mayor.
CX
Compound-complex
Two or more coordinated
independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause
He majored in biology, but he became
so fascinated by language that he
changed to English.
CD-CX
© 2014 by Kelly Sassi and Anne Ruggles Gere from Writing on Demand for the Common Core State Standards Assessments. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
6444_Online_Paging.indd 74
2/11/14 1:31 PM