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Lecture Slides - Simple Compound Complex

This document defines and provides examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences. A simple sentence contains one clause, while a compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined together. A complex sentence contains both independent and dependent clauses. Dependent clauses do not stand alone as a complete thought. The document encourages reading writing out loud to check flow and grammar and cautions that long sentences can be difficult for readers to follow.

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23 views9 pages

Lecture Slides - Simple Compound Complex

This document defines and provides examples of simple, compound, and complex sentences. A simple sentence contains one clause, while a compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined together. A complex sentence contains both independent and dependent clauses. Dependent clauses do not stand alone as a complete thought. The document encourages reading writing out loud to check flow and grammar and cautions that long sentences can be difficult for readers to follow.

Uploaded by

alanatamerji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 1: Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

In this module, we move beyond the simple


sentence to consider compound and
complex sentences.
Simple sentence:

A simple sentence consists of only one clause,


with a single subject and predicate.

The cat sat on the hat.


A compound sentence:

A compound sentence consists of two or more


independent clauses joined together.

The cat sat on the hat and the dog got up.
The cat sat on the hat; the dog got up.
We join sentences together to avoid a robotic effect, or when we
want to create less of a break between ideas. Joining sentences
together also allows us to introduce variation into our writing.
A Complex Sentence:

A complex sentence has a combination of both


independent and dependent clauses.

The cat sat on the hat, although I didn’t want


him to.
Dependent Clauses:

The cat sat on the hat, although I didn’t want


him to.
“although I didn’t want him to” = dependent clause
Dependent clauses don’t make sense on
their own.

If I said out loud, “although I didn’t want him to”,


you would be waiting for me to finish my
sentence.

Reading your writing out loud is a useful step to ensure good flow and good
grammar.
A Complex Sentence:
A complex sentence has a combination of both independent and
dependent clauses. To be classified as a complex sentence, there
must be at least one dependent clause.

Examples:
• While I like writing, I prefer writing, though my favourite activity is sleeping.
• I often cook with butter, so while my cakes are light and fluffy, my cholesterol is
dangerously high.
You should now have a basic understanding of the difference between simple,
compound and complex sentences. Long sentences will contain multiple
dependent and independent clause combinations. While there are good
reasons for long sentences—humans are capable of highly nuanced and
sophisticated thoughts that are enriched by being held within the single vessel
of a long and elegant sentence—if you are not confident with your grammar, if
you have no good reason to group a lot of different ideas together, and if you
are confused about what you are saying, then avoid like the plague (or like
COVID-19) long sentences.
As reading the previous sentence has demonstrated, it’s much harder
cognitive work keeping track of meaning in long sentences.
Hence the modern proclivity for brevity.
That’s it for Module 1: Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences.

Contrast this slide with the last. Which do you prefer and why?
Is there an either/or answer here, or is it horses for courses?

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