Sentences: simple and compound

There are mainly three kinds of sentences in English: simple, complex and compound.

Simple sentence
A simple sentence consists of just one clause. Examples are given below.

 The dog barks.

 The kettle boils.
 Birds live in nests.
 The boys are singing.
In its simplest form, a simple sentence consists of a subject and a verb.
We can add more meaning to the sentence by including qualifiers, objects, complements etc.

 Sitting on a branch, the monkey gibbered.

 The little girl was carrying a basket on her head.

Compound sentence
A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses.

 The boys sang and the girls danced.

This compound sentence consists of two simple clauses connected by the coordinating conjunction and.
Another example is given below.

 Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.

This compound sentence consists of three independent clauses.
We make compound sentences by joining independent clauses with the help of coordinating conjunctions.
More examples of compound sentences are given below.

 You may watch TV or you can go out to play.

 You should either sit quietly or go out.
 The old man could neither see nor hear.
 He took the test several times but he couldn’t pass.
 He is famous, yet he is very humble.
 She was angry, still she kept her cool.
 The thieves not only robbed the man of his possessions, but also inflicted injuries on him.
Notes
The words however, therefore and nevertheless are not conjunctions. They cannot be used to connect two
independent clauses.

 My car broke down on the way; therefore, I hired a taxi. (NOT My car broke down on the way, therefore
I hired a taxi.)
 He lost all his money; nevertheless, he is cheerful.
Two independent clauses need to be connected with a coordinating conjunction or separated with a full stop
or a semicolon.
Sentence Types: Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex
Simple Sentences - A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb. - It expresses a single complete thought that can
stand on its own. Examples: 1. The baby cried for food. ^There is a subject and a verb that expresses a complete
thought. 2. Professor Maple’s intelligent students completed and turned in their homework. ^ A simple sentence does
not necessarily have to be short. It can have adjectives. In this case, there are two verbs “completed” and “turned in.”
However, the sentence expresses one complete thought and therefore is a simple sentence. 3. Megan and Ron ate too
much and felt sick. ^Although there are two subjects and two verbs, it is still a simple sentence because both
verbs share the same subjects and express one complete thought.

Compound Sentences - A compound sentence has two independent clauses. An independent clause is a part of a
sentence that can stand alone because it contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. - Basically, a
compound contains two simple sentences. - These independent clauses are joined by a conjunction (for, and, nor, but,
or, yet, so). Examples: 1. The shoplifter had stolen clothes, so he ran once he saw the police. ^Both sides of the
conjunction “so” are complete sentences. “The shoplifter had stolen clothes” can stand alone and so can “he ran once
he saw the police.” Therefore, this is a compound sentence. 2. They spoke to him in Spanish, but he responded in
English. ^This is also a compound sentence that uses a conjunction to separate two individual clauses. Complex
Sentences - A complex sentence is an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause
either lacks a subject or a verb or has both a subject and a verb that does not express a complete thought. - A complex
sentence always has a subordinator (as, because, since, after, although, when) or relative pronouns (who, that, which).
Examples: 1. After eating lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, Tim went to the gym to exercise. ^ The independent clause is
‘Tim went to the gym to exercise.” The subordinating clause before it is dependent on the main, independent clause. If
one were to say “after eating lunch at The Cheesecake Factory,” it would be an incomplete thought. 2. Opinionated
women are given disadvantages in societies that privilege male accomplishments.

^ The subject is “opinionated women” and the verb is “are given.” The first part of the sentence “opinionated women
are given disadvantages in societies” is an independent clause that expresses a complete thought. The following “that
privilege male accomplishments” is a relative clause that describes which types of societies. 3. The woman who taught
Art History 210 was fired for stealing school supplies. ^ The dependent clause in this sentence is “who taught Art History
210” because if removed, the rest of the sentence would stand as an independent clause. “Who taught Art History 210”
is an adjective clause that provides necessary details about the subject, woman.

Compound-Complex Sentences - A compound-complex sentence has two independent clauses and at least one
dependent clause. Examples: 1. After the two soccer players lost their game, they joined their other teammates for
lunch, and they went to the movies. ^ If we remove the dependent clause “after the two soccer players lost their game,”
we have a compound sentence. The dependent clause makes this sentence compound-complex. 2. The man believed in
the system, and he knew that justice would prevail after the murderer was sent to jail.

Practice: Identify whether the sentences are simple, complex, compound or compound-complex. Please underline
dependent clauses where it applies.

1. Vampires Dairies is my favorite television show, but I also love True Blood.
2. The student wiped the white board that was filthy with last week’s notes.
3. The trendy fashion designer released her new line on Wednesday.
4. Trina and Hareem went to a bar in Hollywood to celebrate their anniversary.
5. Wicked Regina cast a spell on the entire city, so the citizens decided to rebel.
6. While waiting for the paint to dry, Angela went to Home Depot, and Martin organized the
kitchen appliances.
7. After listening to the Kanye West CD, I have new respect for his music.
8. After the teacher chose groups, John and Sara were selected as partners for a project, yet
Sarah did most of the work.
Other Comparisons: What's the difference?
Requests vs Commands

request command

English English
Noun Noun
(en noun) (en noun)
 Act of (l).  An order to do something.
 * Shakespeare I was given a command to cease shooting.
I will marry her, sir,  The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be
at your request . obeyed or to compel obedience.
 A formal (l) requesting to have command of an army
something.  power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.
 of being sought after. he had command of the situation
 * Sir W. Temple England has long held command of the sea
Knowledge and fame a good command of language
were in as great  A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to
request as wealth order or control.
among us now. General Smith was placed in command .
 (obsolete) That which is  The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
asked for or requested. Command cannot be otherwise than savage, for it implies an
 * Bible, Psalms cvi. 15 appeal to force, should force be needful.'' (''H. Spencer , Social
He gave them their Statics, p. 180)
request .  (military) A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the
Synonyms control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in
* (act of requesting) asking, someone's charge.
beseech, prayer, wish *  * 1899 ,
(formal message requesting
something) petition,
postulation * (state of being
sought after) demand
Derived terms
* discovery request *
request for admission *
request for production
Verb
(en verb)
 to express the need or
desire for
 to ask somebody to do
something
Synonyms
* (to express the need or
desire for ): indicate, pray,
wish * (to ask somebody to
do something ): ask,
bespeak, call for
Related terms
* require * requirement *
requisite
See also
* * (wikipedia "request")
External links
***
Anagrams
*
I asked myself what I was to do there, now my boat was lost. As a
matter of fact, I had plenty to do in fishing my command out of
the river.
 Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or
outlook.
 (computing) A directive to a computer program acting as an
interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
 (baseball) The degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.
He's got good command tonight.
Verb
(en verb)
 To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority.
The soldier was commanded to cease firing.
The king commanded his servant to bring him dinner.
 * Francis Bacon
We are commanded' to forgive our enemies, but you never read
that we are ' commanded to forgive our friends.
 * Shakespeare
Go to your mistress: / Say, I command her come to me.
 To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over,
especially military; to have under direction or control.
to command an army or a ship
 * Macaulay
Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.
 * Shakespeare
Such aid as I can spare you shall command .
 To require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.
he commanded silence
If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made
bread. (Mat. IV. 3.)
 * 2013 , Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier
League keeps importing'' (in ''The Guardian , 20 August
2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/19/english-
talent-premier-league-importing]
The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex
but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English
players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command
radically inflated transfer fees.
 to dominate through ability, resources, position etc.; to overlook.
Bridges commanded by a fortified house. (Motley.)
 To exact, compel or secure by influence; to deserve, claim.
A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the
people.
Justice commands the respect and affections of the people.
The best goods command the best price.
This job commands a salary of £30,000.
 To hold, to control the use of.
The fort commanded the bay.
 * Motley
bridges commanded by a fortified house
 * Shakespeare
Up to the eastern tower, / Whose height commands as subject all
the vale.
 * Addison
One side commands a view of the finest garden.
 (archaic) To have a view, as from a superior position.
 * Milton
Far and wide his eye commands .
 (obsolete) To direct to come; to bestow.
 * Bible, Leviticus xxv. 21
 I will command my blessing upon you.
Synonyms
* (give an order) decree, order
Derived terms
 * chain of command * commandable * command economy * commandeer *
commander * commandery * command guidance * commanding * command
key * command language * command line * commandment * command
module * command performance * command post * high command *
second in command * self-command * trains command * your wish is my
command

D IR E CT A N D IN D IR E CT D IS C O U RS E

English
Direct discourse is speech that is made directly from the speaker to the receiver. If
you see quotation marks in a text, this is direct discourse.
 “Jim, can you get me a soda?”
 “I will be out of the office for two weeks.”
 “Please mow the lawn sometime today.”
Indirect discourse reports on the speech of others without using a direct
quotation. In other words, indirect discourse paraphrases what others have said.
Notice how the examples of direct discourse above are changed to indirect
discourse here with the use of some key words in italics:
 Jim, Sarah asked you if you could buy her a soda.
 Erin said that she will be out of the office for two weeks.
 Dad told us to mow the lawn sometime today.
Resources:
 Examples and explanations of direct and indirect discourse
 Set of examples you can change into indirect speech (with answers

What is a graphic organizer?

A graphic organizer is a visual representation or frame used to organize
information. The purpose of a graphic organizer is to help students by
simplifying information and by stimulating thinking skills.
Types of Graphic Organizers

Definition and Types

A graphic organizer is a visual and graphic display that depicts the relationships
between facts, terms, and or ideas within a learning task. Graphic organizers are
also sometimes referred to as knowledge maps, concept maps, story maps,
cognitive organizers, advance organizers, or concept diagrams.

Types of Graphic Organizers

Graphic organizers come in many different forms, each one best suited to
organizing a particular type of information. The following examples are merely a
sampling of the different types and uses of graphic organizers.
A Descriptive or Thematic Map works well for mapping generic information, but
particularly well for mapping hierarchical relationships.

Organizing a hierarchical set of information, reflecting superordinate or

subordinate elements, is made easier by constructing a Network Tree.
When the information relating to a main idea or theme does not fit into a hierarchy,
a Spider Map can help with organization.

When information contains cause and effect problems and solutions, a Problem
and Solution Map can be useful for organizing.
A Problem-Solution Outline helps students to compare different solutions to a
problem.
A Sequential Episodic Map is useful for mapping cause and effect.

When cause-effect relationships are complex and non-redundant a Fishbone Map

may be particularly useful.

A Comparative and Contrastive Map can help students to compare and contrast
two concepts according to their features.

Another way to compare concepts' attributes is to construct a Compare-Contrast

Matrix.

Continuum Scale is effective for organizing information along a dimension such as

less to more, low to high, and few to many.

A Series of Events Chain can help students organize information according to

various steps or stages.

A Cycle Map is useful for organizing information that is circular or cyclical, with
no absolute beginning or ending.
A Human Interaction Outline is effective for organizing events in terms of a chain
of action and reaction (useful in social sciences and humanities)