Sentences in English – Simple, Compound, Complex and Compound Complex Sentences

English Sentences

I define sentence as a word or group of word beginning with a capital letter, ending with an appropriate punctuation mark such as full-stop, comma, question mark, or an exclamation mark, giving a complete sense with meaning. When a sentence is made up of just a word, such word must be a lexical finite verb. E.g. sleep, go, come, etc.

Types of Sentences

There are four classifications of sentences and these classifications are based on the structure of the sentences. They include:

- Simple sentences

- Compound sentences

- Complex sentences

- Compound complex sentences

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is that which has a singular verb and expresses a single thought. It is made up of a single independent clause.

Note: An independent clause (also known as a main clause) is that clause which can stand on its own and make a complete sense while a dependent clause (also known as a subordinate clause) is a clause that cannot stand on its own to make a complete sense. A sentence is said to be simple when its structure comprises just one clause which must be an independent clause/main clause.

Example 1: I saw him.

Example 2: He went to the market.

Only a single thought or message is expressed in the sentences above and are conveyed through the verb saw and went respectively. It should therefore be noted that, the messages or thoughts in a sentence are expressed or conveyed by the verb.

Compound Sentences

This is made up of at least two independent clauses. This implies that the structure of a compound sentence comprises only independent/main clauses i.e. clauses that can stand on their own. Compound sentences express at least two thoughts or messages. The clauses in a compound sentence are joined by coordinating conjunctions. There are three major types of coordinating conjunctions and they include: and, but, or. Examples:

1. I saw him but I did not greet him.

There are two clauses in the sentence above joined by the coordinator 'but'. These two clauses can stand separately with each having a complete sense. We call such sentences compound sentences.

2. She went to the market but she did not buy oranges. (Two independent clauses)

3. You should sleep on the floor or you sleep on the bed. (Two independent clauses)

4. I saw Peter but he did not see me and I pretended. (Three independent clauses)

A compound sentence can also have commas as the conjunction e.g.

5. We came, we saw, we conquered.

Complex Sentences

These are sentences that are made up of one independent/main clause and one or more dependent clauses. The clauses in a complex sentence are usually joined by subordinators or subordinating conjunctions. Such subordinators includ: although, however, instead, when, etc. Examples:

1. I saw him (main clause) although I did not greet him (dependent clause).

2. He went to the market (main clause) when I was hungry (dependent clause) despite our quarrel (dependent clause).

Compound Complex sentences

These are sentences that contain at least two main clauses plus one or more subordinate clauses. These means that we should have a minimum of two main clauses and a minimum of one subordinate clause. Examples:

1. He went to the market (main clause) and he brought me oranges (main clause) although we were quarrelling (dependent clause).

2. He came (main clause) and we meet him (main clause) although we could not speak with him (dependent clause) because he was sick (dependent clause).

The classification of sentences discussed above is known as Structural Classification of Sentences. We have another classification known as Functional Classification of Sentences. It should be recalled that the structural classification is based on the clausal structure (make-up) of the sentence. The functional classification on the other hand is based on the functions of the sentences. There are four types of sentences under this classification and they include:

Declarative sentence: its function is information giving. For example: John is coming tomorrow.

In this sentences, the subjects are naturally fronted.

Interrogative sentence: its function is information demanding, e.g.

Is John coming home? (Polar interrogative)

What is your name? (Non-Polar interrogative)

In this sentences, the operators (auxiliary verbs) are naturally fronted in polar interrogatives while 'wh' words are fronted in non-polar questions.

Imperative Sentence: its function is to give commands. Examples:

Get out now. (Exclusive imperative)

Let's go now. (Inclusive imperative)

In these sentences, the predicators (verbs) are fronted for the exclusive imperatives while 'let' is fronted in the inclusive imperative. Imperatives naturally do not take subjects but do in some cases.

Exclamation Sentence: its function is expression of feelings. Example:

How lucky we are!

These sentences sometimes appear as interrogatives but they are not. They normally end with the exclamation mark.