http://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/eng1001/sentences.htm Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences.

Becoming aware of three general types of sentences--simple, compound, and complex--can help you vary the sentences in your writing. The most effective writing uses a variety of the sentence types explained below. 1. Simple Sentences A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a completed thought. Examples of simple sentences include the following: 1. Joe waited for the train. "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb

2. The train was late. "The train" = subject, "was" = verb

3. Mary and Samantha took the bus. "Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb

4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station. "I" = subject, "looked" = verb

5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived. "Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "left" = compound verb

Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of the sentences into compound or complex sentences (explained below). The use of compound subjects, compound verbs, prepositional phrases (such as "at the bus station"), and other elements help lengthen simple sentences, but

simple sentences often are short. The use of too many simple sentences can make writing "choppy" and can prevent the writing from flowing smoothly. A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of a compound or complex sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete sentence. 2. Compound Sentences A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent clauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of the words "FAN BOYS":

For And Nor But Or Yet So

Examples of compound sentences include the following: 1. Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.

2. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.

3. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the bus before I arrived.

4. Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus station.

Tip: If you rely heavily on compound sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of them into complex sentences (explained below). Coordinating conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but compound sentences often are overused. While coordinating conjunctions can indicate some type of relationship between the two independent clauses in the sentence, they

sometimes do not indicate much of a relationship. The word "and," for example, only adds one independent clause to another, without indicating how the two parts of a sentence are logically related. Too many compound sentences that use "and" can weaken writing. Clearer and more specific relationships can be established through the use of complex sentences. 3. Complex Sentences A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that would make it a complete sentence. Examples of dependent clauses include the following:

because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon while he waited at the train station after they left on the bus

Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most common subordinating conjunctions:

after although as because before even though if since though unless until when whenever whereas wherever while

A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.

The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as in the following: Tip: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses. 1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station. 2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late. 3. After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station. Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the dependent clause, as in the following: Tip: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to separate the two clauses. 1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon. 2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station. 3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on the bus. Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main parts of the sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers that one thing occurs before another. A word such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a word such as "and" conveys. The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a complex sentence beginning with a dependent clause and ending with an independent clause, as in "While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late." Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed thought occurs at the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build up to the meaning that comes at the end. Beginning Sentences with "And" or "Because" Should you begin a sentence with "and" or "but" (or one of the other coordinating conjunctions)? The short answer is "no." You should avoid beginning a sentence with "and," "or," "but," or the other coordinating conjunctions. These words generally are used to join together parts of a sentence, not to begin a new sentence. However, such sentences can be used effectively. Because sentences beginning with these words stand out, they are sometimes used for emphasis. If you use

sentences beginning with one of the coordinating conjunctions, you should use these sentences sparingly and carefully. Should you begin a sentence with "because"? There is nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with "because." Perhaps some students are told not to begin a sentence with "because" to avoid sentence fragments (something like "Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon" is a sentence fragment), but it is perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with "because" as long as the sentence is complete (as in "Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.")

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/words/sentences.htm Complex sentences I like football, but I don't like handball. What other sports do you practise besides football? I don't like coffee. - Neither do I. I like football, especially when my team wins. I was tired, so (that's why) I went to bed. I like either tea or milk. Of course I like volleyball. Do you know if/whether Peter lives in Glasgow? I like football although I'm often on the road. In fact, I think that my team will win. They're losing the match. Nevertheless we're watching it. I go to discos in order to meet friends. I like volleyball and tennis. Perhaps you'll like football, too. I like football because it's interesting. Considering he's played football for only two years, he does it well. I'll come to your party, unless it rains. I don't know how to play Squash. However the teacher explained it, I didn't understand a word of it. First of all I'd like to say that, ... I like sports, for example football.

http://writing-for-kids.com/sentence2.html What are the different styles of sentences?

In order for your writing to be interesting, you will need to vary the styles of sentences that you use. If your writing only contains simple sentences, your writing will be very choppy: I like Mrs. Bergey. She is my teacher. She teaches writing. POSITIVELY BORING!!! I know you can do better than that!

Simple sentences . . . contain only one independent clause. Example: Mrs. Bergey enjoys teaching writing.

What are Compound Sentences? They join two or more independent clauses (simple sentences). Compound sentences join ideas of equal importance. Mrs. Bergey enjoys teaching writing. Mrs. Bergey wants her students to succeed. becomes: Mrs. Bergey enjoys teaching writing, and she wants her students to succeed. A compound sentence contains two sentences joined by and, or, or but. These words are called conjunctions. Compound sentences express more than one complete thought.

What are Complex Sentences?

Complex sentences join one or more dependent clauses to the independent clause. Complex sentences are useful when youre writing includes some ideas that are more important than others. Remember, just because a sentence has a phrase in it like an opposite phrase, or a prepositional phrase- doesn't make it a complex sentence. Mrs. Bergey, a teacher at Twenty nine Palms Elementary School, enjoys teaching writing. CHALLENGE QUESTION: The above sentence is still just a simple sentence! Do you know why? A complex sentence contains at least one clause (a statement) that is not a complete sentence. This is in addition to at least one other independent clause that could be a complete sentence on its own. CHALLENGE ANSWER: While "a teacher at Twenty nine Palms Elementary School" is not a complete sentence and would not stand on its own, it is just a phrase. A clause has a subject and a predicate. Let's look at a different example: While Mrs. Bergey was editing her website. That is an example of a dependent clause. Even though it seems like it has a subject (Mrs. Bergey) and a predicate (was editing her website), it can't stand on its own! It needs something else to be a complete thought! (That is why it is sometimes called a "dependent" clause. It depends on the rest of the sentence.)