Clause
Sentences are either simple or
multiple. A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause. A multiple
sentence contains one or more clauses as its immediate constituents.
Sentences are of two main types: simple
(one simple independent clause, each element is realized by a phrase), and multiple_
a. compound (two or more coordinated clauses), b. complex (one main clause and
one or more elements are realized by subordinate clauses such as a direct
object or an adverbial).
Ø Sophie
had quit the job that she took only last week. ( the relative clause is part of
the NP)--- simple sentence
Ø She
lost her job although she had worked hard.- adverbial subordinated to the main
clause--- multiple, complex.
The most effective writing uses a
variety of the sentence types explained below.
1. Simple Sentences
A simple
sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a
subject, a verb, and a completed thought.
Examples
of simple sentences include the following:
1.
Joe waited for the
train.
"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
2.
The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
3.
Mary and Samantha
took the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
4.
I looked for Mary and
Samantha at the bus station.
"I" = subject, "looked" = verb
"I" = subject, "looked" = verb
5.
Mary and Samantha
arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" = compound verb
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" = compound verb
Tip: If you use many simple
sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of the sentences into
compound or complex sentences (explained below).
The use of
compound subjects, compound verbs, prepositional phrases (such as "at
the bus station"), and other elements help lengthen simple sentences, but
simple sentences often are short. The use of too many simple sentences can make
writing "choppy" and can prevent the writing from flowing
smoothly.
A simple
sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is
referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of a
compound or complex sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete
sentence.
2. Compound Sentences
A compound
sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent clauses (or
complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating
conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of
the words "FAN BOYS":
§ For
§ And
§ Nor
§ But
§ Or
§ Yet
§ So
Examples
of compound sentences include the following:
1.
Joe waited for the
train, but the train was late.
2.
I looked for Mary and
Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the station
before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.
3.
Mary and Samantha
arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the
bus before I arrived.
4.
Mary and Samantha
left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the
bus station.
Tip: If you rely heavily on
compound sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of them into
complex sentences (explained below).
Coordinating
conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but compound sentences often
are overused. While coordinating conjunctions can indicate some type of relationship
between the two independent clauses in the sentence, they sometimes do not
indicate much of a relationship. The word "and," for example, only
adds one independent clause to another, without indicating how the two parts of
a sentence are logically related. Too many compound sentences that use
"and" can weaken writing.
Clearer and
more specific relationships can be established through the use of complex
sentences.
3. Complex Sentences
A complex
sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent
clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an
independent clause, or complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that
would make it a complete sentence.
Examples
of dependent clauses include the following:
§ because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before
noon
§ while he waited at the train station
§ after they left on the bus
Dependent
clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence,
but they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
Dependent
clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of
the most common subordinating conjunctions:
§ after
§ although
§ as
§ because
§ before
§ even though
§ if
§ since
§ though
§ unless
§ until
§ when
§ whenever
§ whereas
§ wherever
§ while
A complex
sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.
The dependent
clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as in
the following:
Tip: When the dependent clause comes
first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses.
1.
Because Mary and
Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the
station.
2.
While he waited at
the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.
3.
After they left on
the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station.
Conversely, the
independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the dependent
clause, as in the following:
Tip: When the independent clause
comes first, a comma should not be used to separate the two clauses.
1.
I did not see them at
the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon.
2.
Joe realized that the
train was late while he waited at the train station.
3.
Mary and Samantha
realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on the bus.
Complex
sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex
sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main
parts of the sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers
that one thing occurs before another. A word such as "although"
conveys a more complex relationship than a word such as "and"
conveys.
The term periodic sentence is
used to refer to a complex sentence beginning with a dependent clause and
ending with an independent clause, as in "While he waited at the train
station, Joe realized that the train was late.”
Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the completed thought occurs at the end of it, so the first part of the sentence can build up to the meaning that comes at the end.
