Understanding Sentences: Types of Sentences

1. Understanding Sentences:Types of Sentences presented by Emanuel Hughley Jr. assistant professor English and Journalism Cuyahoga Community College. Eastern Campus

2. Dependent clauses Recognizing dependent clauses is important for two reasons. Enables you to avoid making the mistake of writing a sentence fragment. You can learn to use them to add variety to your sentence structures.

3. Types of sentences Sentences come in four varieties according to the number and type of clauses they contain. Simple sentences Compound sentences Complex sentences Compound-complex sentences

4. Simple Sentences Has one independent clause. Example: The TV5 weatherman predicted rain. Example: The trailer is surrounded by a wooden deck. Example: In the morning, Jack drinks coffee. Example: Hoping for the best, Mary tossed the bouquet. A simple sentence has One subject One predicate One complete idea The most readable format of a simple sentence is subject-verb-object.

5. Compound Sentences Consists two or more independent clauses and no dependent clauses. The clauses must be joined by either a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or separated by a semicolon.

6. Compound Sentences A comma by itself is too weak a punctuation mark to separate and join two complete thoughts.

7. Compound Sentences Using a comma to separate two complete ideas creates a sentence error known as a comma-splice.

8. Compound Sentences Example: Occasionally a car goes up the dirt trail, and dust flies everywhere. Example: North Dakota has been ravaged by early spring floods; millions of its residents are homeless.

9. Compound Sentences Using no punctuation at all between two complete ideas creates a confusing error called a fused sentence.

10. Compound Sentences The reader can�t tell where the first thought ends if the writer uses no punctuation at all.

11. Complex Sentences Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Example: Because affordable housing is scarce, many families are homeless. Many families are homeless because affordable housing is scarce. Dependent clause: Because affordable housing is scarce Independent clause: many families are homeless.

12. Complex Sentences When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, a comma is needed to separate it from the rest of the sentence. No comma is needed when a complex sentence begins with an independent clause.

13. Compound-Complex Sentences Contains at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause. Example: I gave Joe a compliment when he finished the job, and he seemed pleased. Independent clauses: I gave Joe a compliment, and he seemed pleased. Dependent clause: when he finished the job.

14. Why study sentences? Understanding parts of sentences and kinds of sentences will help you avoid sentence errors such as fragments and run-on sentences.

15. Why study sentences? These kinds of errors block the understanding of the ideas you want to communicate when you write. And you don�t want that. Do you?