Ecole Normale Supérieure Grammar

(ENS) Bouzaréah First Year

English Department 2024/2025

Types of Sentences
1-Simple Sentence
A simple sentence consists of one statement. It contains a subject and a predicate. A simple sentence can also
have compound verbs, but only a single set of subject-verb relations.

Examples :

 The lake has been polluted by several neighbouring streams.

 I would like to be a writer one day.
 The wind and the heat dried my hair.
 Sam and Sally save soda straws.
 This bird fluttered and sqwaked in the tree.
 The lawn mower smoked and sputtered.
 Fiona, Cira and Jack lubricated my car, replaced the oil filter, and cleaned the spark plugs.

2-Counpound Sentence

A compound sentence is made up of two (or more) simple sentences. The two complete statements in a
compound sentence are usually connected by a comma plus a joining word. It is used when we want to give
equal weight to two closely related ideas. There are four ways to join the clauses.

A-With Coordinating Conjunctions :

FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)

S+V, Coordinating conjunction S + V

Examples :

 I had to give up wood carving, for my arthritis had become very painful.
 I will not watch football, nor will I read the book.

Note : We inverse the subject verb whenever we use ‘nor’.

B-With Correlative Conjunctions :

Examples :

 Either you complete your studies at university, or you go to the boarding school.
 She not only broke her promse, but she also told me a lie.
 Not only did she broke her promise, but she also told me a lie.

C- With Conjunctive Adverbs :

Examples :

 In New York, Davila lives in apartment building ; however, she lives in a house in her native country.
  Community colleges offer preparation for many occupations ; moreover/in addition/
besides/furthermore/also, they prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university.
 Tuition at community college is low ; on the other hand/ in contrast, tuition at private school is high.

D- With a Semicolon :

Example :

 Salt water boils at a high temperature than fresh water ; food cooks faster in salt water.

3-Complex Sentence

A complex sentence has a single independent clause but at least one dependent clause. That is, it contains a
simple sentence ( a complete statement) and a statement that begins with a dependent word.

Examples :

 Whie Nora was eating breakfast, she began to feel sick.

 I checked my money before I invited Samy for lunch.
 When Adam lost his temper, he also lost his job.
 Although I practised for three months, I failed my driving test.
 Because I forgot the time, I missed the final exam.

Note : An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone. A dependent clause does
not express a complete thought and depends on the independent clause to complete its meaning. Dependent
clause always begin with a dependent or subordinating word.

4-Compound-Complex Sentence

A compound-complex sentence combines together two or more independent clauses (simple sentences) with at
least one dependent clause.

Examples :

 Since Maria was here, she helped me roll up the rug, and then we took it upstairs.
 When the power line snapped, Jack was listening to the radio, and Linda was reading in bed.
 After I returned to school following a long illness, the math teacher gave me make-up work, but history
teacher made me drop her course.
 I wanted to travel after I graduated from college; however, I had to work immediately.

Summary

 Compound Sentences :

1-Coordinating Conjunctions :

FANBOYS : For, And, Nor, But, Yet,Or, So

2-Correlative Conjunctions :

Either……….or, neither ……… nor, both……….. and, not only………but also…….

3-Conjunctive Adverbs :

-Addition : moreover, in addition, futhermore, besides,…….

-Contrast : however, nevertheless, still,……………..

-Consequence : therefore, thus, consequently, as a result, as a consequence, hence,……..

*Other Connectors :

-Otherwise, else,….

-Likewise, similarly,…

-In fact, indeed,….

 Complex Sentence:

Subordinating conjunctions for Adverbs Clauses :

-Time Clauses : after, as soon as, as, before, when, whenver, while, until, since, once,…..

-Place Clauses : where, everywhere,….

-Cause Clauses : because, since, as,……

-Result Clauses : so + adjective/ adverb + that

(e.g. So clearly did you speak that everyone listened to you with great interest.

Such (a) adjective + adjective/ adverb + noun + that

-Purpose Clauses : in order that, so that, lest + modal veb + bare infinitive.

-Concession Clauses : although, even though, though, no matter what/ how,………..

e.g. However high the tree is, he climbs it.

-Contrast Clauses : while, whereas,….

-Conditional Clauses : if, even if, unless, in case,……..

-Comparison Clauses :

He speaks English much better than his brother does.

…………….. as + well + as ……………………..

-Manner, Distance, Frequency Clauses :

Examples :

 She plays baseball as often as she can.

 She went as far as I told her, but she couldn’t find the place.
 The students completed the experiment as their teacher told them.
 The students completed the experiment as quickly as they could.
Ecole Normale Supérieure Grammar
(ENS) Bouzaréah First Year
English Department 2022/2023

Practice (Types of Sentences)

Exercise 1: Combine the following pair of sentences in an appropriate way to get compound sentences.
1- He wrote quickly. He made many mistakes.
2- You disobeyed me. I will not help you again.
3- He works hard. He finds time to play.
4- She broke the cup. She spilt milk on the tray.
5- You must follow the doctor’s advice. You will not get better.
6- I do not have a car. I do not know how to drive.
7- She was wise. She was clever.
8- Th night stars were glittering. The sky was dark blue.
9- The rain fell. The crops did not grow.

Exercise 2 : Combine the following sentences to obtain complex sentences.

1- I applied for a low-interest student loan. I spoke to a financial aid consellor about my opinions.
2- The teacher spoke clearly. The student understood the lesson.
3- He had a pension. It provided him with a small income.
4- Volunteers stacked sandbags along the river bank. The river continued to flow over them.
5- Somerset Maugham was a writer. He wrote short stories.
6- Mr.Smith will not be able to sell pork in North African countries.These countries do not consume that
meat.
7- He is sitting out in the sun. His friend is working in the library.

Exercise 3: Complete the following sentences in the appropriate way to get complex sentences.
1- He went downstairs ………………………………………………………………………………………..
2- David felt relieved …………………………………………………………………………………………
3- He wondered ……………………………………………………………………………………………….
4- She speaks better …………………………………………………………………………………………..
5- The audience applauded …………………………………………………………………………………...
6- The book was boring ………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 4 : Combine the following sentences in appropriate way to obtain compound-complex sentences
1- A-Grammar is easy.
B- I learnt it quickly.
C-it took me several years to master writing.
2- A- George likes music.
B- His parents can’t stand it.
C- He wears earphones.
3- A-Belinda had a haircut.
B- She came home and looked in the mirror.
C- She decided to wear a hat for a few days.
D- She thought she looked like a bad eagle.
4- A-My car does not start on cold mornings.
B- I think the battery needs to be replaced.
C- I already had it recharged once.
D- I don’t think charging it again would help.