Grammar: Sentences

In this section you will learn about the four sentence patterns. (Note that the first pattern has two variations!)

Why?

Once you know the four kinds of sentences—simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex—and how they are used, you will be able to choose sentence patterns as you write, giving you more power and flexibility in your writing.

How?

Click the “LearnIt” tab to the left to step through animations that show how simple sentences build into the other kinds of sentences.

The Pattern
- 1aSimple sentences
- 1bSimple sentences:
  adding descriptions
- 1cSimple sentences:
  adding objects
- 2Compound sentences
- 3Complex sentences
- 4
  Compound-complex sentences
Each sentence below is an independent clause.

Each sentence below is still an independent clause, but notice how you can add descriptions to the nouns and verbs from the most basic pattern.

Each sentence below is still an independent clause, but notice how you can add "objects" to the sentences, so that the subject can act on something.

When you join two or more independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, you build a compound sentence.

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction.

As its name suggest, a compound-complex sentence joins at least one compound sentence with at least one complex sentence. The sentences are joined with a conjunction.

You dance . I dream . She s listen . Music plays .

crazily sweetly He and carefully Others' in the mall

your own dance sweet dreams hear nothing fills

, and , for

We who are plugged into our iPods to our own music the unrequested that

but ,
- Nouns
- Verbs
- Subjects
- Predicates
- Objects
- Independent Clauses
- Relative Pronouns
- Conjunctions
- Dependent Clauses
- Coordinating Conjunctions
- Necessary Commas
1A. Simple Sentences

Each sentence below is an independent clause.
- You dance.
- I dream.
- She listens.
- Music plays.
1B. Simple Sentences. Adding Descriptions

Each sentence below is still an independent clause, but notice how you can add descriptions to the nouns and verbs from the most basic pattern.
- You dance crazily.
- I dream sweetly.
- He and she listen carefully.
- Others' music plays in the mall.
1C. Simple Sentences. Adding Objects

Each sentence below is still an independent clause, but notice how you can add "objects" to the sentences, so that the subject can act on something.
- You dance your own dance.
- I dream sweet dreams.
- He and she hear nothing.
- Others' music fills the mall.
2. Compound Sentences

When you join two or more independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, you build a compound sentence.
- You dance your own dance, and I dream sweet dreams.
- He and she hear nothing, for others' music fills the mall.
3. Complex Sentences

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction.
- We who are plugged into our iPods dance and dream to our own music.
- He and she hear the unrequested music that fills the mall.
4. Compound-Complex Sentences

As its name suggest, a compound-complex sentence joins at least one compound sentence with at least one complex sentence. The sentences are joined with a conjunction.
- We who are plugged into our iPods dance and dream to our own music, but he and she hear the unrequested music that fills the mall.