Classification of sentences

In linguistics and grammar, a sentence is defined as a linguistic expression, like the English
example "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." In traditional grammar it is typically
defined as a string of words that expresses a complete thought.It can also be defined as a unit
consisting of a subject and predicate. In non-functional linguistics a sentence is a maximal
unit of syntactic structure such as a constituent. In functional linguistics, it is defined as a unit
of written texts delimited by graphological features such as upper-case letters and markers
such as question marks, exclamation marks and periods.

There are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. A
sentence contains one or more clauses, and you can classify a sentence as one of the four
types by assessing the number and types of clauses it contains.

1. Simple sentences: a simple sentence contains a single independent clause—that is, a

subject and a predicate that form a complete thought. Unlike a complex sentence, a
simple sentence does not contain dependent or subordinate clauses. Simple sentence
structures can contain punctuation, such as commas, in addition to a period,
exclamation mark, or question mark at their end. Simple sentences can also contain
modifiers like adjectives (which describe nouns) and adverbs (which complement
verbs). Prepositions and prepositional phrases are additional parts of speech in English
grammar you can use to create basic sentences:
It is a black dress.
The boy bought a new car.
Simple sentences can contain more than one verb:
The girl bought an ice cream cone and ate it at home.
Also, a simple sentence is not always simple:
The boy- a red-faced blonde,about seven years old, in a blue shirt- bought his new
skateboard and rode it in the park.

2. Compund sentences: a compound sentence is a sentence that connects two

independent clauses, typically with a coordinating conjunction like and or but. They’re
best for combining two or more self-sufficient and related sentences into a single,
unified one.It requires a co-ordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses
 and create the compound sentence. A compound-complex sentence is comprised of at
least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses:
Laura forgot her friend's birthday, so she sent her a card when she finally remembered.
Though Mitchell prefers watching romantic films, he rented the latest spy thriller, and
he enjoyed it very much.

The and conjunction is the most common conjunction. It has several uses:
 We use and to join two clauses that have equal value, for example: Paris is in France,
and Rome is in Italy.
 We use and to join two clauses when the second clause happens after the first clause,
for example: There was a storm and the lights went out.
 We use and to join two clauses when the second clause is a result of the first clause,
for example: She went to bed early, and the next day she felt better.

We use the but conjunction to introduce a clause that contrasts with the preceding
clause, for example: Anna ran fast, but she couldn't catch John.
We use the or conjunction to join two alternative clauses, for example: Will Mary go,
or will Ron go?
We use the nor conjunction to join two alternative clauses when the first clause uses a
negative such as neither or never. In this case both clauses are untrue or do not
happen, for example: Tania never wrote the letter, nor did she call him.
We use the for conjunction (meaning something like because) to join two clauses
when the second clause is the reason for the first clause, for example: Forgive me
father, for I have sinned.
The yet conjunction is similar to but. It means something like but at the same time; but
nevertheless; but in spite of this. As with but, there is a contrast between the clauses,
for example: I have known him for a long time, yet I have never understood him.
The so conjunction means something like therefore; and for this reason. We use so to
join two clauses when the first clause is the reason for the second clause, for
example: He was feeling sick, so he stayed home.

Occasionally, we join independent clauses with a semicolon: The sky is cloudy; it's
going to rain.
We can also join independent clause with words and phrases like moreover, however, at
least (conjunctive adverbs). In this case, the conjunctive adverb must be preceded by a

semicolon and followed by a comma : What he did was incredible; in fact, I can hardly
believe it.

Here are some examples of compound sentences in quotes from famous people and sources:

"Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn." Laurence Binyon

"To be uncertain is uncomfortable; but to be certain is ridiculous." Goethe

"For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt though return." Bible

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde

"The girl was beheaded, chopped into pieces and placed in a trunk, but was not interfered
with." British newspaper report.

3. Complex sentences: a complex sentence is formed by adding one or more subordinate

(dependent) clauses to the main (independent) clause using conjunctions and/or
relative pronouns. A clause is a simple sentence. Simple sentences contain only one

clause (verb group). Complex sentences contain more than one clause (verb group):
We must not swim where the seals are. (the independent clause is highlighted. It is an
independent clause because it could stand alone as a sentence. "where the seals are" is
a dependent clause. It could not stand alone as a sentence.) .The word used to link an
independent clause to a dependent clause is called a subordinating conjunction. The
most common subordinating conjunctions are although, because, before, even
though, if, since, until, and when:
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
(Dalai Lama)
Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to
say something. (Athenian philosopher Plato)
The role of a subordinating conjunction and the dependent clause is to establish a time,
a place, a reason, a condition, a concession, or a comparison for the main clause.

4. Compound-complex sentences: as the name suggests, a compound-complex sentence

comprises a compound and a complex sentence.A sentence is compound when it has
 two (or more) independent clauses. A sentence is complex when it combines one
independent clause with at least one dependent clause.As a result, a sentence must
have two (or more) independent clauses, and at least one dependent clause to become
a compound-complex sentence: Though Alex prefers peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches, he ordered a mushroom pizza, and he thought it was delicious.
After she bought an ice cream cone, the girl, who had a freckled face and wore a
striped shirt, went to the park, but she was knocked over by a large dog, which ate her
treat, so she ran home to her mother, who made her an ice cream sundae.

The sentences can also be: declarative, exclamatory, imperative, and interrogatory. Each
sentence type serves a different purpose.

1. Declarative sentences: In English grammar, a declarative sentence is a sentence that

makes a statement, provides a fact, offers an explanation, or conveys information.
These types of sentences are also known as declarative statements. A declarative
sentence is the most common type of sentence in the English language. Sentences
written in the declarative form are written in the present tense and usually end with a
period. Normally, the subject comes before the verb: I am a law student.

2. Exclamatory sentences: An exclamatory sentence, also known as an exclamation

sentence or an exclamative clause, is a statement that expresses strong emotion.
Typically, in English grammar, exclamatory sentences end with an exclamation mark
—also called an exclamation point. While exclamatory sentences are appropriate in
casual settings, avoid using exclamatory sentences in all types of formal writing,
including academic writing: I said stop!

3. Imperative sentences: An imperative sentence is a sentence that expresses a direct

command, request, invitation, warning, or instruction. Imperative sentences do not
have a subject; instead, a directive is given to an implied second person. For example,
the sentence, “Wash the dinner plates,” commands the implied subject to wash the
dishes.

4. Interrogative sentences: An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question. A

sentence written in the interrogative form can be direct or indirect, begin with or
without pronouns, and feature yes/no interrogatives, alternative questions, or tag
questions. Interrogative sentences often start with interrogative pronouns and end with
a question mark. Question words, typically “wh” words, include “who,” “what,”
“when,” “where,” “why,” “which,” “whose,” and “whom.” You can also use auxiliary
verbs in interrogative sentences, such as “Did she mean to sound so angry?” Here,
“did” is an auxiliary verb (or helping verb), transforming the sentence “she meant to
sound so angry” into a question.

Bibliography:
“An Introduction to English Sentence Structure” Andrew Radford
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_(linguistics)