07/02/2013
Sentence Types
A. Subject & verb
Concise points
Unambiguous
Writing Well
Sentence Style Variety
[email protected]
Steve Cope
Student Learning Advisory Service
www.kent.ac.uk/learning
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B. Joins two + ideas
3 Styles
Independent clause
A. Simple
+ independent clause
B. Compound
Uses co-ordinators
C. Complex
FANBOYS
All must end with)
C. Independent +
dependent clauses
and/or independent
clauses
All must make sense
Variety is the key, but
avoid the comma splice.
Independent clauses
+ dependent clause
Use conjunctions &/or
punctuation
1 Simple Sentence Structures
1 Deconstructing a Simple Sentence
Contains a subject (thing the sentence is about)
and verb (action done by or to the subject)
Alice is hungry.
Often contains an adjective which describes the
subject
It must make sense when read in isolation
e.g. The busy road is very dangerous.
This sentence has a subject: “Alice”.
It has an action: "is" which is a form of the “to be”
verb.
Alice is doing the action of “being hungry”.
The university courses were extremely
demanding.
It expresses a complete thought - the purpose of
this sentence is to tell the reader that)
Alice is hungry.
It is clear and unambiguous.
2 Deconstructing a Simple Sentence
Dependent Clauses
Sentences which have these components
(subject + verb) and which express a complete
thought are called Independent Clauses.
Dependent clauses lack clear meaning when read
in isolation:
A major part of the student’s course.
If a sentence is lacking in one of these
components, it is called a Dependent Clause.
Independent clauses can stand on their own they form complete sentences.
Dependent clauses need to be joined to an
independent clause.
Even though he was ill.
Because she missed the train.
When her daughter came to stay.
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Compound Sentence Structures
Two related independent clauses can be joined
using a semicolon
Alice is hungry; she wants something to eat.
Each of the two clauses in this sentence are
independent clauses - they could stand as
individual separate sentences.
However, they are related, so they can be joined
by a semicolon.
Compound Sentence Structures
A compound sentence contains two or more
independent clauses joined by a coordinator.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Compound Sentence Structures
Independent clauses can be joined to each other
using subordinating conjunctions.
An independent clause can be made dependent on
another clause by using a subordinating
conjunction.
For example: “Alice is hungry and it is lunchtime."
The second clause “It is lunchtime" could be an
independent clause.
However, the subordinating conjunction "and" makes
it dependent on the first clause.
With the "and" at the beginning, the sentence no
longer stands on its own because it is dependent on
the first clause.
Short and sweet
A run on sentence is a sentence that has two or
more clauses which are improperly joined.
Nick likes to cook, he makes dinner every day.
FANBOYS
Exercise: Using 3 of these coordinators, write your own
compound sentences about your experience of university.
Comma splices
The improper use of a comma here is called a
comma splice.
The sentence could be corrected by using a
semicolon in place of the comma.
“Nick likes to cook" is an independent clause that
could stand by itself.
“He makes dinner every day” is an independent
clause that could stand by itself.
These two sentences should not be joined by a
comma.
Run on Sentences
Mary likes dogs she has a beagle.
"Mary likes dogs" is an independent clause that
could stand by itself.
“Nick likes to cook; he makes dinner every day."
"She has a beagle" is an independent clause that
could stand by itself.
It could also be corrected if a coordinating
conjunction was used:
As written, the sentence is a run on sentence
since it contains two separate ideas.
“Nick likes to cook and/so he makes dinner every
day."
These two clauses must have punctuation and/or
a conjunction.
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Semicolons
Common conjunctions
Ann likes to read; she reads lots of books; she
goes to the library three times a week.
Semicolons should only be used to link two
independent thoughts.
Avoid using 2 semicolons to link 3 independent
thoughts.
One of these thoughts needs to be a separate
sentence, or a conjunction needs to be used.
One could write "Ann likes to read; she reads lots
of books and goes to the library three times a
week."
Complex Sentences
for, or, yet, so, even though, if, after, wherever, until, when,
while, although, as, provided that, as if, that, as much as,
as though, because, though, as long as, before, in order
that, in case, lest, once, by the time, even if, as soon as,
only if, since, and, so that, nor, but, than, till, unless,
whenever, where
Exercise: Choose 3 of these conjunctions, preferably ones
that you don’t often use, and write sentences using each
one.
Complex Sentences
When I visit my mother, I eat biscuits.
This is NOT a compound sentence because "When I visit
my mother" is not an independent clause and a
coordinator has not been used.
I like to cycle because cycling keeps me fit.
Although "I like to cycle" is an independent clause and
“cycling keeps me fit" is an independent clause, this is
still not a compound sentence because none of the 7
FANBOYS coordinators are used. Instead we have used
‘because’ which is a conjunction.
Only independent clauses joined by one of the 7
FANBOYS coordinators make compound sentences.
When an independent clause and a dependent clause are
joined, a complex sentence is formed, which is distinct
from a compound sentence.
Let’s have a look at some examples.
Consequently, the examples above are complex
sentences.
Styles of Complex Sentences
Dependent clause first:
When a sentence starts with a subordinate clause it
must start with a subordinating conjunction.
Examples are:
after, although, as, because, before, even, if, since,
though, that, unless, until, when, whenever, where,
wherever, whether, which, while, who and why.
Exercise: Each student is allocated with one of these subordinating
conjunctions and writes their own example.
Styles of Complex Sentences
Dependent clause first:
Although I was scared, I crossed the bridge.
When the alarm rang, the fire crew know what to do.
While there was a strong breeze, Dylan flew his kite.
After the wind dropped, it started raining.
Although it was cold, Ronni went outside in a T-shirt.
If you proofread carefully, you will improve your writing.
Though they were tired, the students could not sleep.
Because it was raining, Finlay put up his hood.
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Styles of Complex Sentences
Styles of Complex Sentences
Dependent clause last:
Dependent clause in the middle:
I crossed the bridge although I was scared.
The fire crew knew what to do when the alarm rang.
Dylan flew his kite while there was a strong breeze.
It started raining after the wind stopped.
Ronni went outside in a T-shirt although it was cold.
You will improve your writing if you proofread carefully.
The students could not sleep though they were tired.
Finlay put up his hood because it was raining.
The pianist, famous in China, played beautifully.
Ms Peters, who teaches physics, enjoys painting.
Sheena, singing to herself, ambled along the lane.
The puppy, tired of walking, started to whine.
The car, which had been stolen, was found abandoned.
Abdul, feeling a little uncertain, hesitated at the door.
The lecture, as usual, was informative and inspiring.
The holiday, a week in Cannes, was won by a student.
Note the punctuation and write your own.
What difference do you notice here?
Dependent Clauses
Independent Clauses
Identify the dependent clauses in the following sentences:
Identify the independent clauses in the following sentences:
In the last analysis, every step forward in the history of
civilisation has been brought about by an increase in the
productivity of labour.
Good dance-training courses often include singing training, as
many modern dance choreographers are now demanding sung
and spoken voice skills of their dancers.
The function of inter-vertebral discs is to allow mobility, to keep
the space open for the nerve pathways and to absorb the many
shocks our daily lives inflict upon the spinal column.
Literature is the art of written work and can, in some
circumstances, refer exclusively to published sources.
The URL should be included in your reference list, but do not
include it in your in-text citation, unless this is the only piece of
information you have.
Of course, it might be argued that secondary education, with its
compartmentalisation of knowledge and its oddly juxtaposed
periods of study, ensures that pupils adjust to a cavalcade of
teaching styles.
The Student Learning Advisory
Service (SLAS)
Any questions?
Good Luck!
[email protected]
Canterbury
Email : [email protected]
Phone: 01227 82(4016)
Medway
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01634 88(8884)
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