Types of Sentences
(From the BYU Writing Center Website)
Simple
A simple sentence is an independent clause (a phrase that can stand by itself as a complete sentence)
and has only one subject-verb combination.
Example: Rocky Balboa is the underdog with a heart of gold.
Example: Rocky and Mickey train hard for the fight.
Note that the subject or verb (or both) can be compound in a simple sentence, as in the second
example.
Compound
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses. It joins two sentences with closely related
ideas with a semicolon, colon, or conjunction. (Conjunctions are words such as but, and, although,
because, etc.)
Example: Rocky’s nickname is “The Italian Stallion,” and he earns that sobriquet with his passion.
Example: The boxing match takes place on New Year’s Day; Creed has no idea what he’s in for.
In the first example, the two independent clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction; in the
second, they are joined by a semicolon.
Complex
A complex sentence has an independent clause and at least one dependent clause (a phrase that has a
subject and a verb but cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence). A dependent clause can precede,
follow, or be in the middle of an independent clause.
Example: Even if Rocky doesn’t win the match, he’ll be satisfied if he can last fifteen rounds with Creed.
In the example above, a dependent clause precedes an independent clause. This type of construction
uses the dependent clause as an introductory phrase, which is an adverbial or participle phrase at the
beginning of a sentence that explains when, where, why, how, or under what circumstances the action
of the sentence occurs.
Example: Sarah must go to the store today, although she may not be able to leave work early.
In the example above, the dependent clause follows after the independent clause.
Example: The movie starring Tom Cruise was very action packed.
Example: Minority Report, starring Tom Cruise, was very action packed.
The above examples have dependent clauses in the middle of an independent clause. In the first of two
examples, the dependent clause is a restrictive modifier (a word or phrase that modifies a noun and is
essential to the meaning of the sentence). There are no commas around restrictive modifiers.
In the second sentence, the dependent clause is a nonrestrictive modifier, which contains information
that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, requiring a pair of commas to set it off from the
surrounding text.
Compound Complex
A compound complex sentence has two or more independent clauses, one or more dependent clause,
and has two or more subject-verb combinations.
Example: When the match is finally over, Adrian runs down to the ring and Rocky embraces her instead
of caring about the outcome of the match.
A dependent clause begins this sentence and is followed by two independent clauses joined by the
coordinating conjunction and.