Kinds of Sentences and Their Punctuation

A sentence may be one of four kinds, depending upon the number and type(s) of clauses it contains.

Review: An independent clause contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.

A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, but no complete thought.

1. A SIMPLE SENTENCE has one independent clause.

Punctuation note: NO commas separate compound elements (subject, verb, direct object, indirect object, subjective complement, etc.) in a simple sentence.

The following are the chief ways of combining two or more Simple Sentences into one Simple Sentence.
1. By using a Participle: He jumped up. He ran away. Jumping up, he ran away. He was tired of play. He sat down to rest. Tired of play, he sat down to rest. He is well versed in English. He was appointed as the English teacher in the school. For his knowledge of English, he was appointed as English teacher in the school Here you may find the Synthesis of Sentences into a simple sentence. 2. By using a noun or a phrase in apposition: This is my friend. His name is Rama. This is my friend Rama. I spent two days in London. It is one of the most attractive places in England. I spent two days in London, one of the most attractive places in England. Buddhism was founded in 2500 years ago. It is one of the greatest religions. Buddhism, one of the greatest religions, was founded in 2500 years ago. Here you may find the Synthesis of Sentences into a simple sentence. 3. By using a preposition with noun or gerund: The moon rose. Their journey was not ended. Before their journey was ended, the moon rose. He has failed many times. He still hopes to win. Having failed for many times, he still hopes to win. Her husband died. She heard the news. She fainted. On hearing the news of the death of her husband, she fainted. 4. By using, Nominative Absolute Construction: The soldiers arrived. The mob dispersed. The soldiers having arrived, the mob dispersed.

 The town was enclosed by strong wall. The enemy was unable to capture it. The town having been enclosed by strong wall, the enemy was unable to capture it. Here you may find the Synthesis of Sentences into a simple sentence. 5. By using an infinitive: I have some duties. I must perform them. I have some duties to perform. We must finish this exercise. There are still three sentences. We have still three sentences in this exercise to finish. He wanted to educate his son. He sent him to London. He sent his son to London to educate him. He is very fat. He can not run. He is very fat to run. 6. By using an adverb or an Adverbial Phrase: He deserved to succeed. He failed. He failed undeservedly. The sun set. The boys had not finished the game. The boys had not finished the game by sunset. Here you may find the Synthesis of Sentences into a simple sentence. Several of these methods can be combined in the same sentence. The sun rose. The fog dispersed. The general determined to delay no longer. He gave order to advance. These four simple sentences may be combined to form a single simple sentence. At sunrise, the fog having dispersed, the general, determined to delay no longer, gave the order to advance.

2. A COMPOUND SENTENCE has two independent clauses joined by A. a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), B. a conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore), or C. a semicolon alone.

Punctuation patterns (to match A, B, and C above): A. Independent clause, coordinating conjunction independent clause. B. Independent clause; conjunctive adverb, independent clause. C. Independent clause; independent clause.

3. A COMPLEX SENTENCE has one dependent clause (headed by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun ) joined to an independent clause.

Punctuation patterns (to match A, B, C and D above): A. Dependent clause, independent clause B. Independent clause dependent clause

C. Independent, D. Independent

nonessential dependent clause, essential dependent clause

clause.

clause.

4. A COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE has two independent clauses joined to one or more dependent clauses.

Punctuation patterns: Follow the rules given above for compound and complex sentences. A compound-complex sentence is merely a combination of the two.

CONNECTORS--COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES Two independent clauses may be joined by 1. Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) 2. Conjunctive adverbs Ic; therefore, Ic, and ic. ic

A dependent (subordinate) clause may be introduced by 1. Subordinating conjunctions (ADVERB CLAUSE) Dc, ic. or or Ic dc.

2. Relative pronouns (ADJECTIVE CLAUSE) I, dc, c.

I dc c.

3. Relative pronoun, subordinating conjunctions, or adverbs (NOUN CLAUSE)