Grammar : Sentence Types

Topic: Sentence Types

Hello everyone,
Some of you might be wondering what could have been done to improve your writing skills. Other than good grammar, applying various sentence types is another brilliant way to polish your writing. Not only it shows your ability to write well to express your idea, this sophisticated technique will surely attract readers and examiner into reading your essay. Here are the 4 major sentence types that you should know; 

1. Simple sentences
- A simple sentence contains 3 basics elements
 i) a subject ii) a verb iii) a complete thought/object
- Simple sentence is also referred as "Independent Clause" , sentence that can stand alone

Example: She eats a plate of fried noodles
-She (subject) eats (verb) a plate of fried noodles (object)

2. Compound sentences
- A compound sentence has two independent clauses
- Independent clauses are joined by a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so / FANBOYS)
Example: Sally didn't like to eat vegetables but she enjoyed eating fruits and nuts.
- Sally didn't like to eat vegetables (independent clause 1) but she enjoyed eating fruits and nuts. (independent clause 2)

3. Complex sentences
- A complex sentence is an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses 
- "Dependent clause" is either lacks a subject or a verb or that does not express a complete thought.
- Complex sentence always has a subordinator (as, because, since, after, although, when) or relative pronouns (who, that, which).
Example: Before going to school this morning, Zachary ate breakfast that his mother prepared.
- Before going to school this morning (dependent clause 1) Zachary ate breakfast (independent clause) that his mother prepared.(dependent clause 2)

4. Compound-complex sentences
- A compound-complex sentence has two independent clauses (compound) and at least one dependent clause.
Example: Since her grandparent passed away, Marry didn't talk much to anybody and she preferred to be on her own lately.
- Since her grandparent passed away (dependent clause), Marry didn't talk much to anybody (independent clause 1) and (conjunction) she preferred to be on her own.(independent clause 2)

Thus, it is important for students to be able to apply variety of sentence types in their writing to make sure the essay is well written and matured at the same time. Too many usage of simple sentences will make your writing rather "choppy" and too many compound sentences can weaken the writing. Please consider applying some complex and compound-complex sentences in your masterpiece from now on :)

Cheers, till next time

   Amsterdam, The Netherlands