Overview
This lecture explains the four main types of English sentences—simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex—and illustrates how to identify and use each type to improve writing variety.
Importance of Sentence Variety
- Using only one type of sentence in writing makes it boring and hard to follow.
- Sentence variety adds interest and clarity to both writing and speech.
- Mastering sentence types is especially important for writing tests like IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, and GRE.
Four Types of Sentences
- Only four sentence types need to be learned: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
Simple Sentences
- Contains one independent clause (subject + verb, complete idea).
- Can include phrases or compound subjects/objects without adding another clause.
- Example: "Layla studied biology."
- Long sentences with only one subject-verb combination are still simple sentences.
Compound Sentences
- Has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, so).
- Each clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Avoid joining too many clauses to prevent run-on sentences.
- Example: "I arrived at the office at 9, and my assistant came 10 minutes later."
Complex Sentences
- Includes one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
- Dependent clauses cannot stand alone; types include noun, adjective, and adverb clauses.
- Example: "John retired when he turned 65."
- Noun clauses can serve as the sentence's subject or object.
Compound-Complex Sentences
- Combines two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
- Can include multiple types of dependent clauses.
- Example: "Bill voted against the measure because he felt that it wasn't strong enough, but he also offered to continue discussions, which we will do next week."
Key Terms & Definitions
- Independent Clause — A group of words with a subject and verb that forms a complete thought.
- Dependent Clause — A group of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Compound Sentence — A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction.
- Complex Sentence — A sentence with one independent and at least one dependent clause.
- Compound-Complex Sentence — A sentence with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
- Coordinating Conjunction — Words like 'and', 'but', 'or', 'so' that join independent clauses.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Complete the quiz on sentence types at www.engvid.com.
- Practice writing sentences using all four types for homework.
- Review the lesson or ask questions in the comment section if needed.