grammer

SENTENCE TYPES AND SENTENCE VARIATION

SIMPLE SENTENCE: A simple sentence contains a single independent clause (subject+verb+complete thought)

“Technology helps students.” or “Students struggle.”

Be careful though because a simple sentence may have more than one subject and more than one verb and/or more than one subject.

“Technology and tutors help and support students and professors.”

In academic writing, short simple sentences can be used to make a powerful, memorable statement.

“This is dangerous.”

COMPLEX SENTENCE: Contains AT LEAST one dependent and one independent clause. Dependent clauses often have a subordinating conjunction (see handouts). A relative clause may also be a dependent clause.

“Although technology helps students, we need to be careful.”

Sometimes you may see or use two dependent clauses in a complex sentence. Make sure you have an independent clause and don’t overdo it!

“Although technology helps students, we need to be careful because it can also be dangerous.”

Notice that a comma goes after a dependent clause but not before it.

*SOME SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: If you add any of these to an independent clause, it will make it a dependent clause (a fragment sentence) that MUST be connected to an independent clause.

if while when because since after whereas after until

even though although before in order to

“Technology helps students.” (This is a simple sentence and an independent clause.)

“Because technology helps students.” (This is a fragment sentence and a dependent clause.)

COMPOUND SENTENCE: A Compound sentence has two (or more) independent clauses. The most common types of compound sentences are with a comma and “FANBOYS.”

“Technology helps students, but it can be dangerous.”

“Technology helps students, so professors should use it effectively.”

There are other ways to make compound sentences, however. One of my favorite ways is to use a semi-colon (;) instead of a comma and a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, furthermore) and a comma:

“Technology helps students; however, it can be dangerous.”

“Technology helps students; therefore, professors should use it effectively.”

COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE: Contains a compound sentence and a dependent clause.

“Technology helps students, so professors should use it effectively if they want their students to succeed.”

“Technology helps students; therefore, professors should use it effectively if they want their students to succeed.”

OTHER PUNCTUATION

A colon (:) can be used in several ways. My favorite ways is to use it AFTER A COMPLETE SENTENCE (of any type above, but ideally with a simple sentence) to introduce a list.

“Technology can create many distractions in the classroom: texting, social media, music, videos, etc.”

A colon can also be used to connect two independent clauses IF the SECOND sentence explains the first. This creates another type of compound sentence.

“Technology can create many distractions in the classroom: texting, social media, music, and videos can all take the student’s attention away from the educational activities.

What other types of punctuation have you seen or would you like to learn how to use?