Sentences Classified According To Structure: Examples

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4
Sentences Classified g
According to Structure
Sentences may be classified according to purpose as declarative, impera- Reference Note
tive, interrogative, or exclamatory. Sentences may also be classified For more on classifying
GRAMMAR
according to structure. The term structure refers to the number and sentences by purpose,
see page 109.
types of clauses in a sentence.
4g. Depending on its structure, a sentence can be classified as

simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
In the following examples, independent clauses are underlined once.

Subordinate clauses are underlined twice.
(1) A simple sentence contains one independent clause and
no subordinate clauses. It may have a compound subject, a
compound verb, and any number of phrases.
S V
EXAMPLES The boys wanted to take a vacation last summer.
S S V V
Ray and Joe worked and saved enough for a trip to Ohio.
(2) A compound sentence contains two or more independent

clauses and no subordinate clauses. Paragraphs in which all the
sentences have the same
The independent clauses in a compound sentence may be joined by a structure can be monoto-
comma and a coordinating conjunction; by a semicolon; or by a semi- nous to read. To keep your
colon, a conjunctive adverb, and a comma. readers interested in your
ideas, evaluate your writ-
S V ing to see whether you’ve
EXAMPLES Originally, they wanted to ride bikes all the way, but used a variety of sentence
structures. Then, use revis-
S V
ing techniques—adding,
they decided to take the train instead.
cutting, replacing, and
reordering—to enliven
S V S V
your writing by varying the
Ray looked forward to seeing his cousins ; Joe was eager to
structure of your sentences.
play with his uncle’s band.
S V
Uncle James played in a country-music band; however,
Identify and use simple
S V sentences. Identify and
Joe preferred rock music. use compound sen-
tences. Identify and use
complex sentences.
Sentences Classified According to Structure 155

NOTE Don’t confuse a simple sentence that contains a compound

predicate with a compound sentence. Compound sentences always
have two or more complete clauses.
S V V
GRAMMAR
COMPOUND Joe considered country music corny and said so.

PREDICATE
S V S V
COMPOUND Joe considered country music corny, and he said so.
SENTENCE
C OM P U T E R T I P (3) A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at

A word processor can help least one subordinate clause.
you check for varied sen- S V
tence structure in your EXAMPLES Because Joe wanted to keep his guitar with him,
writing. Make a copy of
your document to work on. S V
By inserting a return or a they decided against taking a plane.
page break after every
period, you can view the S V S V
sentences in a vertical list If they took a train, they could see all the sights, too.
and compare the structures
of each sentence in a
particular paragraph. (4) A compound-complex sentence contains two or more
Make any revisions on the independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.
properly formatted copy
S V S V
of your document.
EXAMPLES The band played at a dance, and Ray was pulled into a line
S V
dance that was starting.
S V
To his surprise, he was good at line dancing; afterward,
S V S V
he.joined in whenever he got the chance.
Exercise 6 Classifying Sentences According

to Structure
Identify and use
compound-complex Classify each of the following sentences as simple, compound, complex,
sentences. Understand
agreement. or compound-complex. Be sure that you can identify all subordinate and
independent clauses.
156 Chapter 4 The Clause

EXAMPLE 1. The Iroquois are American Indian peoples originally

from New York State. Link to Literature
1. simple
1. Members of.the Iroquois—which include the Mohawk, Oneida,

Onondaga,.Cayuga,.Tuscarora,.and Seneca—have an ancient
GRAMMAR
history of.storytelling.
2. In the early days,.professional storytellers went from house to
house, and they were paid for.their storytelling with small.gifts.
3. Most of.what is known today about Iroquois folk tales comes from
the Senecas, whose stories have been written down by historians.
4. Some of.the most popular stories are about a creature who is
hairless except for one strip of.fur down his back.
5. He is so huge that his back can be seen above.the trees.
6. He eats people; because.he cannot be killed in any ordinary way,
he is especially frightening.
7. The tales about this creature are even more.frightening than are
the ones about Stone Coat, who has skin like stone.
8. Fortunately,.Stone Coat is not very smart, and many of.the folk
tales tell.of.ways that the Iroquois outsmart him.
9. There.are also tales about the Whirlwinds, who usually appear as
bodiless heads with fiery eyes; in some stories,.the Whirlwinds eat
sticks and rocks when they cannot catch people.
10. Other Iroquois stories tell.about the adventures.of.Elk,.Partridge,
Skunk,.and Rattlesnake.
Exercise 7 Classifying Sentences According

to Structure
Classify each of the following sentences as simple, compound, complex,
or compound-complex.
EXAMPLE 1. In all the world, there is only one art museum for
children’s art, and it is located in Norway.
1. compound
1. This museum is the International Museum of

Children’s Art, which occupies a big, old house
in Oslo.
2. The walls are covered from top to bottom with
brilliantly colored creations by young artists up
to age seventeen.
Sentences Classified According to Structure 157

Sentences Classified According To Structure: Examples

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NL_EOL_SE09_P1_C04_142-163 5/4/07 10:07 AM Page 155

4g. Depending on its structure, a sentence can be classified as

In the following examples, independent clauses are underlined once.

(2) A compound sentence contains two or more independent

Sentences Classified According to Structure 155

NOTE Don’t confuse a simple sentence that contains a compound

COMPOUND Joe considered country music corny and said so.

C OM P U T E R T I P (3) A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at

Exercise 6 Classifying Sentences According

156 Chapter 4 The Clause

EXAMPLE 1. The Iroquois are American Indian peoples originally

1. Members of.the Iroquois—which include the Mohawk, Oneida,

Exercise 7 Classifying Sentences According

1. This museum is the International Museum of

Sentences Classified According to Structure 157

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