Simple, Compound and

Complex Sentences
By Michal Kirschner
adapted by Elana Spector-Cohen

Types of Sentences
Simple

sentences
Compound sentences
Complex sentences

I. Simple Sentences
One verb only!
Must have at least a subject
and a verb.
May have more than one
subject, object or complement.

s
Adv,

adv
adv adj
adj nn

v
vv adv
adv VV

O/C
adv
adv adj
adj nn

s
Adv,

adv
adv adj
adj nn

v
vv adv
adv VV

o
adv
adv adj
adj nn

Interestingly, a very brave explorer has just found an extremely big cave.

II. Compound Sentences

Two or more independent sentences

that are connected together.

The information in each sentence is
equally important.

s
v
o
John likes ice cream.
s
v
o
Mary likes chocolate.

and
but

s
v
o
John likes ice cream
s
v
o
Mary likes chocolate.

The south of the country is

arid and hot; the north is
green and lush.

Connecting expressions help us see if the

connected sentences are:
on the same level (equally important)
not on the same level (not equally
important)

10

Signals: Compound Sentences

signals

and, neither...nor
or, either...or
but

logical relationships

addition
choice
contrast

Punctuation: semicolon ( ), commas ( )

11

III. Complex Sentences

Two or more clauses that are
connected together.
The information is NOT equally
important.
More important = main (independent) clause
Less important = subordinate (dependent) clause

12

Strategy for Analyzing All

Complex Sentences
1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

Find the signal for the subordinate clause(s)

Isolate the subordinate clause(s)
Go back to what you have left that is the
main clause
Analyze the main clause (divide into rooms
and find the important words and then words
that describe)
Go back to the subordinate clause and analyze
that too
13

Complex Sentence: Type A

The subordinate clause is
completely outside the main clause.

Subordinate Clause

Main
Clause

Subordinate Clause

14

Signals: Complex Sentence

Type A = CONNECTORS
Signals
if, once
by the time, until
in order to
although, despite
because, since

Logical Relationships
conditional
time
purpose
concession
cause & effect

15

signal
s

o
S

Although John loves ice cream, he doesnt eat any sweets.

16

1. We wont buy the statue, if it is so expensive.

17

1. We wont buy the statue, if it is so expensive.

18

1. We wont buy the statue, if it is so expensive.

S
V
O
s v
c

19

signal
S

We wont buy the statue, if it is so expensive.

S

s v

c
20

.They got lost because they lost the map

21

.They got lost because they lost the map

22

signal
S

They got lost because they lost the map.

S

V C

s v

o
23

We will help you, as long as we can.

24

We will help you, as long as we can.

25

We will help you, as long as we can.

26

signal
s

We will help you as long as we can.

S

s v
27

Complex Sentence: Type B

The subordinate clause is inside the main
clause. It describes the noun group
directly before it (either the subject,
object or complement group)
Main Clause

subordinate

O/C

subordinate

28

Signals:
1. Relative pronouns (who, whom, that, which, that,
whereby, etc.)
2. Two nouns or verbs next to each other (n n v v)
3. An adjective after a noun (n adj)
4. A noun and then a passive verb without the helping
verb (to be)
5. A noun and then a verb+ing without to be

Logical Relationship:
Description or identification

29

Signals
Relative pronouns
who
whose
whom
which
that
whereby
30

The ceremonial fighting routines

that have developed in the
course of evolution are highly
characteristic of each species.

31

The ceremonial fighting routines

that have developed in the
course of evolution are highly
characteristic of each species.

32

The ceremonial fighting routines

that have developed in the
course of evolution are highly
characteristic of each species.

33

The ceremonial that have

fighting
evolved in
routines
the course of
evolution

V
are

C
characteristic of
each species.
34

Hilary Clinton, who served in

Obamas government, wrote a
book about the role of the
community in educating
children.
35

Hilary Clinton, who served in

Obamas government, wrote a
book about the role of the
community in educating
children.
36

s v c

Hilary Clinton, who served in

Obamas
government,

wrote

a book about
the role of the
community in
educating children.
37

Paleontologists have
discovered a new type of
dinosaur that lived 7
million years ago.

38

Paleontologists have
discovered a new type of
dinosaur that lived 7
million years ago.

39

Paleontologists have
discovered a new type of
dinosaur that lived 7
million years ago.
S

Paleontologists have discovered type

40

A scientist who was trained at

Harvard University discovered a
gene that could account for
several types of cancer.

41

A scientist who was trained at

Harvard University discovered a
gene that could account for
several types of cancer.

42

A scientist who was trained at

Harvard University discovered a
gene that could account for
several types of cancer.
Scientist

discovered

gene

43

In the following sentence, what doesnt

follow the rules of English?

The first person little Jackie

approached in a crowded
Brooklyn shopping center
two days before Christmas
ignored her.
44

In the following sentence, what doesnt

follow the rules of English?

The first person little Jackie

approached in a crowded
Brooklyn shopping center
two days before Christmas
ignored her.
There are two nouns and two verbs together:

N1 + N2 + V1 + V2
45

The first person little Jackie

approached in a crowded
Brooklyn shopping center
two days before Christmas
ignored her.
46

How do we know that a

subordinate clause has started
when we do not have a signal
like who, that, etc.?
The first person little
Jackie approached means:
The first person whom little
Jackie approached....
47

How do know that the relative clause

is finished and we have returned to
the main clause?
When the subordinate clause is after
the subject, the second verb means
we have returned to the main clause.
It is the verb of the main clause.
For the main clause, the first noun
goes with the second verb:
N1 + N2 + V1 + V2
48

The first person little Jackie

approached ...ignored her.
S s

V O

49

The theory he developed was confirmed.

50

that

The theory he developed was confirmed.

51

In the following sentence, what doesnt

follow the rules of English?

The people responsible for

the disaster have been
identified.

52

In the following sentence, what doesnt

follow the rules of English?

who are

The people responsible for

the disaster have been
identified.
The adjective comes after the noun instead of
before it.
Therefore, the signal and the verb of the
subordinate clause are missing.
53

The people who are

responsible for the disaster
have been identified.

54

In the following sentence, what

doesnt follow the rules of English?

Children removed from their

mothers at birth for brief
periods suffer much higher
incidences of child abuse.

55

In the following sentence, what

doesnt follow the rules of English?

who were

Children removed from their

mothers at birth for brief
periods suffer much higher
incidences of child abuse.
There is a passive verb without to be.
Therefore, the signal and the helping verb of the
subordinate clause are missing.
56

Children who were removed

from their mothers at birth
for brief periods suffer much
higher incidences of child
abuse.

57

Complex Sentence: Type C

The subordinate clause is inside the
main clause, but does not describe the
noun before it. The subordinate clause
IS the subject, object or complement of
the main clause.

58

Complex Sentence: Type C

The subordinate clause is inside the
main clause, but does not describe
the noun before it. The subordinate
clause IS the subject, object or
complement of the main clause.
Main Clause

O/C
59

Signals
that
that (at
(at the
the beginning
beginning of
of the
the sentence
sentence

or
or after
after the
the verb)
verb)

what,
what, how,
how, why,
why, where,
where, whether,
whether, etc.
etc.
(question
(question words)
words)
whatever,
whatever, whoever,
whoever, whenever
whenever
starts
starts with
with to
to ++ verb
verb (infinitive
(infinitive clause)
clause)
starts
starts with
with verb-ing
verb-ing (gerund
(gerund clause)
clause)
60

How you get the money

is your own problem.

61

How you get the money

is your own problem.

62

How you get the money

is your own problem.

63

How you get the money

is your own problem.

64

How
s

How you get the money is your problem.

s

o
S

C
65

The judge asked him why he

had done it.

66

The judge asked why he had

done it.

67

The judge asked why he had

done it.

68

O
Why

The judge asked why he had done it.

S

s v

o
O
69

Whether an act is deviant

depends on how other
people react to it.

70

Whether an act is deviant

depends on how other
people react to it.

71

Whether

how

Whether an act is deviant depends on how other people

react to it.

v
S

s v v
O

72

In the following sentences:

Where is the main verb?
What part of the
sentence is a whole
clause?
73

That the world is round was

discovered by Christopher
Columbus.

74

That the world is round was

discovered by Christopher
Columbus.

S
S-V-C

75

That children seem to enjoy

competitive games says
nothing about the games
educational impact.
76

That children seem to enjoy

competitive games says
nothing about the games
educational impact.
S
S

77

These studies on anatomical

asymmetries in the brain
indicate that the biological
sex differences in brain
organization are probably
dynamic.
78

These studies on anatomical

asymmetries in the brain
indicate that the biological
sex differences in brain
organization are probably
dynamic.
79

These studies on anatomical

asymmetries in the brain
indicate that the biological
sex differences in brain
organization are probably
dynamic.
80

To be recognized in the
long run as an achiever
means living long enough
to begin to savour ones
accomplishments.

81

To be recognized in the
long run as an achiever
means living long enough
to begin to savour ones
accomplishments.

82

To be recognized in the
long run as an achiever
means living long enough
to begin to savour ones
accomplishments.
S

C
83

Releasing these people

would somewhat balance
the cost of long-term
imprisonment for the
violent criminal.
84

Releasing these people

would somewhat balance
the cost of long-term
imprisonment for the
violent criminal.
85

Releasing these people

would somewhat balance
the cost of long-term
imprisonment for the
violent criminal.
S

O
86

I dont know why she

swallowed a fly. I guess
shell die.

87

I dont know why she

swallowed a fly. I guess
(that) shell die.

88

I dont know why she

swallowed a fly. I guess
(that) shell die.
S

O
89

90