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Contributor: Allison Crews. Lesson ID: 13653
Writing sentences is like building with blocks. Simple sentences are like a single block. Compound, complex, and compound-complex are different types of blocks that can make richer sentences.
There are really only two things required to make a sentence, as long as it expresses a complete thought.
Keep reading to find out!
To make a sentence, you need a subject and a verb. That's it!
As long as it expresses a complete thought, it's a sentence!
This type of sentence is called a simple sentence.
This is the basic building block of writing; however, other building blocks make different types of sentences.
They are compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences.
What Are Compound Sentences?
Compound sentences are two or more independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.
An independent clause is a complete thought with a subject and verb and can stand alone as a sentence.
Conjunctions join these two clauses. The coordinating conjunction can be remembered with the mnemonic device FANBOYS.
If you made an equation to demonstrate how to construct a compound sentence, it would look like this.
independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause = compound sentence
Watch the fun song Conjunction Junction below to learn more about how this type of conjunction works.
What Are Complex Sentences?
Complex sentences contain at least one subordinate clause.
A subordinate clause is a clause that adds information to a sentence but cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence. It is dependent on the leading independent clause.
These clauses are often added to a main clause by using subordinating conjunctions.
There are many subordinating conjunctions. Here are some of the most common ones.
| after | if only | unless | |
| although | so that | until | |
| as | now that | when | |
| as if | once | whenever | |
| as long as | provided | where | |
| as though | rather than | whereas | |
| because | since | wherever | |
| before | so that | whether | |
| even if | that | while | |
| even though | though | within | |
| if | without | besides |
The equation for a complex sentence can look like this.
subordinate clause + independent clause = complex sentence
or
independent clause + subordinate clause = complex sentence
Sometimes, the subordinate clause will appear in the middle of the sentence. Occasionally, there will be more than one subordinating clause in a sentence.
They don't call it complex for nothing!
For a bit more in-depth explanation, watch the following video.
So, What Are Compound-Complex Sentences?
A compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction and at least one subordinate clause.
The equations for this type of sentence get tricky quickly.
independent clause + subordinate clause + independent clause
subordinate clause + independent clause + independent clause
independent clause + independent clause + subordinate clause
There are many ways to make compound-complex sentences; the examples above are just a few. That's the beauty of writing: there is limitless creative potential.
For a summary, watch this next video.
Okay, so it's not exactly super easy. But, with practice, it will be!
Click through to the Got It? section for helpful practice getting this down.
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