ACADEMIC WRITING

TYPES OF SENTENCES

THE 2 TYPES OF CLAUSES

What is a clause?

A clause, like a phrase, is a group of words. But unlike a phrase, a clause is pretty complete. A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.

We have 2 types of clauses

• INDEPENDENT CLAUSE - An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought

• DEPENDENT CLAUSE - A dependent clause begins with a subordinator and does not express a complete thought.

4 TYPES OF SENTENCES

• A SIMPLE SENTENCE

• A COMPOUND SENTENCE

• A COMPLEX SENTENCE

• A COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE

SIMPLE SENTENCE - A simple sentence has just one independent clause.

• I am buying a new pair of jeans

COMPLEX SENTENCE - A complex sentence has an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• When the cake is brown, remove it from the oven.

COMPOUND SENTENCE - A compound sentence has at least two independent clauses.

• I drink green tea, but they drink coffee.

COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE- A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the time to go lately, and I haven't anyone to go with.

ind. clause - " I haven't had the time to go lately"

ind. clause - "I haven't anyone to go with"

dep. clause - "Although I like to go camping"

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is a complex sentence?

• The train was late.

• Because he needed milk, he went to the store.

• She smiled, and she laughed.

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is a simple sentence?

• Being tired, he went to bed.

• As he was tired, he went to bed.

• I saw a girl. She had blue eyes.

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is a compound sentence?

• I want to buy a new car.

• The boys went to the park, but they did not go to the zoo.

• The boys did not go to the zoo because they went to the park.

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences is a compound-complex sentence?

• I am a student.

• When I saw him for the first, he was very shy.

• Because the soup was too cold, I warmed it in the microwave.

• Though Michael enjoys watching comedies, he rented the latest spy thriller, and he enjoyed it very much.

PARALLELISM

Parallelism is a grammatical technique involving the use of the same or similar grammatical structures and clauses within sentence structures. Parallelism is often used to create a better flow to whatever sentence it is applied to.

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PARALLEL - Lily likes eating M&Ms and binge-watching series on Netflix.

NOT PARALLEL - Lily likes eating M&Ms and to binge-watch series on Netflix.

SOURCES

• Benner, Margaret L. “Parallel Structure.” Home, https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/moduleparallel.htm.

• “On-Line Course Materials.” City College Kolkata - On-Line Course Materials, www.citycollegekolkata.org/online_course_materials.shtml.

• Walker, Nicholas. “What Is the Difference between a Simple Sentence, a Compound Sentence, and a Complex Sentence?” Virtual Writing Tutor Blog, 6 May 2019, https://blog.virtualwritingtutor.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-simple-sentence-a-compound-sentence-and-a-complex-sentence/.

Multiple Choice

Which of these 2 sentences is parallel?

• Tonight I will do my homework and watching TV.

• Tonight, I will do my homework and watch TV.

Multiple Choice

Which of these 2 sentences is NOT parallel?

• The author not only wants fame but he also wants money.

• The author not only wants fame but also money.