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.


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, nonessential dependent clause, clause.
D. Independent essential dependent 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) Ic, and ic
2. Conjunctive adverbs Ic; therefore, ic.

A dependent (subordinate) clause may be introduced by
1. Subordinating conjunctions (ADVERB CLAUSE) Dc, ic. or Ic dc.
2. Relative pronouns (ADJECTIVE CLAUSE) I, dc, c. orI dc c.
3. Relative pronoun, subordinating conjunctions, or adverbs (NOUN CLAUSE)