Sentence Types

A clause is a group of words that contains a noun or pronoun that performs a verb.
ex. Before the game starts or
The folder is blue

Clause

A phrase is a group of words that contains a noun or pronoun, but that noun or pronoun does not have verb.
ex. Before the game; At the door

Phrase

A dependent clause has a noun/pronoun that performs a verb but it does not express a complete thought.
ex. If cats are better than dogs

Dependent Clause

An independent clause has a noun/pronoun that performs a verb and expresses a complete thought.
ex. The folder is blue.

Independent Clause

Sentence Types are determined by the number of independent and dependent clauses in the sentence. Phrases do not factor into it.

There are 4 types of sentences.

• Simple sentence

• Compound sentence

• Complex sentence

• Compound-Complex sentence

• Joshua is my best friend.

• Please pass the salt.

• Are you hungry?
  

Example

A simple sentence has one independent clause and no dependent

Definition

• The movie was bad, but the soundtrack was pretty good.

• Hannah likes the beach; Kim likes the mountains.

• We need to leave; unfortunately, the exit is blocked.

Example

A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses and no dependent clauses. Note three methods to join the two clauses are joined together.

Definition

• If you eat all of your dinner, you can have ice cream.

• Put the stamp on the envelope after you write the address on the front.

Example

A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. When the dependent clause comes first, a comma is needed to separate them.

Definition

• Tony called about the job several times before he received a response from the manager, but he accepted another job by then.

Example

A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Definition