CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCES ACCORDING TO STRUCTURE

A sentence may consist of one clause (independent clause) or more clauses

(independent and dependent clauses). An independent clause is also called main clause. A
dependent clause is also called subordinate clause.

On the basis of numbers of clause and types of clauses present in a sentence,
sentences are divided in to four kinds.

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence consists of only one independent clause containing a subject and
a verb and it expresses complete thought. There is no dependent clause.

An independent clause (also called main clause) is called a simple sentence.

Examples:

He laughed.
She ate an apple.
They are sleeping.
I bought a book.
James attended the party last night.
James and Carmen attended the party last night.
James and Carmen attended and enjoyed the party last night.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence consists of at least two independent clauses joined by
coordinating conjunctions. There is no dependent clause in compound sentence. The
coordinating conjunctions use to join independent clauses are for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so. Independent clauses can also be joined by a semicolon (;). A comma (,) may or may not
be used before the conjunction in compound sentence.

Examples:

I like an apple but my brother likes a mango.
I helped him and he became happy.
He failed two times yet he is not disappointed.
I asked him a question; he replied correctly.
Drink, eat, and be merry.
Issa delivered the goods last Tuesday, but Andrew collected the payment two
days after.

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent
clause joined by subordinating conjunction (because, although, since, when, unless, etc) or
relative pronoun (that, who, which, etc).

Examples:
I met the boy who had helped me.
She is wearing a shirt which looks nice.
You cant pass the test unless you study for it.
Francis Bacon wrote essays while William Shakespeare wrote drama.
When Exequiel came to the house, Isabelle was sleeping.
Ivy was brought to the hospital, because she was very ill.

If a complex sentence begins with an independent clause, a comma is not used
between clauses in a complex sentence. If a complex sentence begins with dependent clause
then a comma is use after dependent clause in a complex sentence. See the following
example.

He is playing well although he is ill.
Although he is ill, he is playing well.

Words Often Used as Subordinating Conjunctions:

after because so that whatever
although before than when
as if though whenever
as if in order that till where
as long as provided unless wherever
as though since until while


Compound-Complex Sentence

A complex-compound sentence consists of at least two independents and one or
more dependent clauses.

Examples:

He went to college and I went to a market where I bought a book.
I like Mathematics but my bother likes Biology because he wants to be a doctor.

In the first sentence of above sentence, there are two independent clauses he went to
college and I went to a market, and one dependent clause where I bought a book.