Basic types of sentences and the errors in their
structures
For a prose to be absorbing, writers have to use a variety of sentence
types. There are four basic sentence types in English namely simple,
compound, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences.
S!"#E SE$TE$%E
& simple sentence normally holds 'ust one single sub'ect and one verb( it
expresses a complete thought. t is hence called an independent clause. &s
a thumb rule, a simple sentence can not have in it another independent
clause or subordinate clause.
Examples
Tom li)es to eat mangoes.
*uman beings are mammals
+!&T is a tough exam
There are sometimes some exceptions to this rule. & simple sentence may
sometimes contain a compound sub'ect with more than one sub'ect but
only one verb( similarly there may be only one sub'ect - and more than
one verb , a compound verb.
Examples-
Simple sentences with a compound sub'ect-
.omeo and /uliet are two legendary Sha)espearean romantic characters.
Tom and /erry ma)e merry in the cartoon.
Simple sentences with a compound verb
Tom ma)es merry and leaves in a hurry
!other Theresa lived and died for the destitute children of 0ol)ata.
%ompound Sentences
& compound sentence connects two e1ual and independent sentences by
one of the seven coordinating con'unctions such as , and, but, for, nor, or,
yet, so -. 2fanboys3. $ormally a comma precedes the con'unction. These
con'unctions are context- specific and should not be changed or
substituted at will. The con'unctions 4and, for, or and so5 are said to be
same direction con'unctions while 4but, yet, and nor5 are called negative
direction con'unctions2 contrast mar)ers3.
¬her method of combining two independent but somewhat related
sentences is to use a semi colon 2 ( 3.
Examples of compound sentences
$ormally the color white stands for peace and purity, and green stands for
prosperity and plenty.
/ac) was tired, yet he continued wal)ing up the hill
/ac) was tired, so he stopped wal)ing up the hill
&dmission into the Big league B schools depends a lot on the +!&T score(
in addition, experience also counts.
Be careful when you use a semi colon. The introductory word after the
semicolon should not be capitali6ed.
%7!"#E8 SE$TE$%ES
& complex sentence is a sentence with one independent clause and at
least one dependent clause. t is formed by using a subordinate
con'unction such as after, although, as, as soon as, because, even though,
since, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, while, who, and which etc
&s a rule, a subordinate clause must be accompanied by an independent
clause
Some examples of complex sentences
The door bell rang, when was about to go to sleep.
The people started yelling as soon as they saw the celebrity actor.
&s the exam date is nearing, there is a feverish pitch among the students.
Even though he got 9:; in +!&T, the <niversity ignored his application
because of his lac) of experience.
7ur college has achieved the distinction of standing first in ran)ings, which
may help us to get us a deemed university status 1uic)ly
%ompound-%omplex Sentences
& compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and
at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause can be part of the
independent clause.
Example
=hen summer comes, the rivers turn dry and the crops will wither
wanted to 'oin *arvard to do my !B& , but couldn>t, because did not
have the re1uisite period of experience
Basic exercise- mar) the type of sentence- Simple or compound or
complex.
1. The 'udge entered the court room, greeted the inmates and too) his
seat
?. /ac) played guitar while /ill roc)ed
@. /ac) played guitar, so /ill fiddled
A- <hough &rgentina had a !essy and "ortugal a .onaldo, they lost the
=orld cup
:- The country was abounding in terrorists, pirates and mercenaries
B- Tom was admitted into =harton because he scored high in +!&T and
possessed plenty of experience.
9 &braham #incoln was born in 0entuc)y in CD;E and died in CDB:.
D. <ntil he reached twenty five, he had no problems with his spinal chord.
E at the age of three, a serious attac) of small pox too) her sight away
C;. Though he could not read until he was twelve and was almost deaf in
his late years, Thomas &lwa Edison produced at least a thousand patents
and was the founder of the company now )nown as +eneral Electric.