SIMPLE SENTENCE A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete

thought. In the following simple sentences, subjects are in yellow, and verbs are in green. A. Some students like to study in the mornings. B. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon. C. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day. The three examples above are all simple sentences. Note that sentence B contains a compound subject, and sentence C contains a compound verb. Simple sentences, therefore, contain a subject and verb and express a complete thought, but they can also contain a compound subjects or verbs. COMPOUND SENTENCE A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. The coordinators are as follows:for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. (Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spells FANBOYS.) Except for very short sentences, coordinators are always preceded by a comma. In the following compound sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the coordinators and the commas that precede them are in red.

A. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English. B. Alejandro played football, so Maria went shopping. C. Alejandro played football, for Maria went shopping.

The above three sentences are compound sentences. Each sentence contains two independent clauses, and they are joined by a coordinator with a comma preceding it. Note how the conscious use of coordinators can change the relationship between the clauses. Sentences B and C, for example, are identical except for the coordinators. In sentence B, which action occurred first? Obviously, "Alejandro played football" first, and as a consequence, "Maria went shopping. In sentence C, "Maria went shopping" first. In sentence C, "Alejandro played football" because, possibly, he didn't have anything else to do, for or because "Maria went shopping." How can the use of other coordinators change the relationship

between the two clauses? What implications would the use of "yet" or "but" have on the meaning of the sentence? COMPLEX SENTENCE A complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who,or which. In the following complex sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in green, and the subordinators and their commas (when required) are in red.

A. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page. B. The teacher returned the homework after she noticed the error. C. The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow. D. After they finished studying, Juan and Maria went to the movies. E. Juan and Maria went to the movies after they finished studying.

When a complex sentence begins with a subordinator such as sentences A and D, a comma is required at the end of the dependent clause. When the independent clause begins the sentence with subordinators in the middle as in sentences B, C, and E, no comma is required. If a comma is placed before the subordinators in sentences B, C, and E, it is wrong. Note that sentences D and E are the same except sentence D begins with the dependent clause which is followed by a comma, and sentence E begins with the independent clause which contains no comma. The comma after the dependent clause in sentence D is required, and experienced listeners of English will often hear a slight pause there. In sentence E, however, there will be no pause when the independent clause begins the sentence. COMPLEX SENTENCES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSES Finally, sentences containing adjective clauses (or dependent clauses) are also complex because they contain an independent clause and a dependent clause. The subjects, verbs, and subordinators are marked the same as in the previous sentences, and in these sentences, the independent clauses are also underlined.

A. The woman who called my mom sells cosmetics. B. The book that Jonathan read is on the shelf. C. The house which Abraham Lincoln was born in is still standing. D. The town where I grew up is in the United States.

Compound Complex Sentences Practice Exercises

1. It rained for three days. The streets in my neighborhood flooded. 2. I got to ball practice late. I forgot to set my alarm. 3. Kyle completed his homework. He put it in his binder. 4. Luke mowed the lawn. He earned ten dollars. 5. I stayed up late last night. I am tired today. 6. Neil doesn't like seafood. He doesn't like cabbage. 7. My pencil was broken. I borrowed one from Jake. 8. I like apples. I like pears more. 9. Eight people got into the elevator. It was crowded. Three people got off. 10. Georgia gathered the pictures. She could arrange them in a special album for her family.

Answers
(In each case, only one possible answer is shown.)

1. It rained for three days, so the streets in my neighborhood flooded. 2. I got to ball practice late for I forgot to set my alarm. 3. Kyle completed his homework and he put it in his binder. 4. Luke mowed the lawn and he earned ten dollars. 5. I stayed up late last night so I am tired today. 6. Neil doesn't like seafood, nor does he like cabbage. 7. My pencil was broken so I borrowed one from Jake. 8. I like apples, but I like pears more. 9. Eight people got into the elevator, but it was crowded, so three people got off. 10. Georgia gathered the pictures so she could arrange them in a special album for her family.

Practice Exercise 2
Identify the independent and subordinate clauses in the following sentences and determine whether they are complex or compound-complex. You can check your answers below.

11. Jason decided to stay up late because he had a lot of homework to do. 12. If you hurry, we might get to school on time. 13. Although Monica had a cold, she went to school because she had a test. 14. While washing the car, Todd slipped on the soap and he fell.

15. Dad takes the train to work even though he has a car. 16. After Mom arrived, she put the disk in the DVD player and we watched a great movie. 17. Even though his heart pounded with dread, Ben bolted up the stairs, and he checked out the strange noise. 18. Molly baked brownies since she had nothing else to do. 19. Karen made a list of what was needed, and she double-checked it so she wouldn't forget anything. 20. Frank had a good sense of humor, so he laughed a lot.

Answers
(The independent clauses are boldfaced, the subordinate clauses are italic, and conjunctions are Roman.) 11. Jason decided to stay up late because he had a lot of homework to do. (complex) 12. If you hurry, we might get to school on time. (complex) 13. Although Monica had a cold, she went to school because she had a test. (complex) 14. While washing the car, Todd slipped on the soap and he fell. (compound-complex) 15. Dad takes the train to work even though he has a car. (complex) 16. After Mom arrived, she put the disk in the DVD player and we watched a great movie. (compound-complex) Even though his heart pounded with dread, Ben bolted up the stairs, and he checked out the strange noise. 17. (compound-complex) 18. Molly baked brownies since she had nothing else to do. (complex) Karen made a list of what was needed, and she double-checked it so she wouldn't forget anything. (compound19. complex) 20. Frank had a good sense of humor, so he laughed a lot. (complex)