The PowerPoint provides a brief introduction about the sentences and types of sentences in English.

1. A Brief Intro to
Types of Sentences
S. Mohan Raj
Ph.D Research Scholar, English
VIT, Vellore
rajmohan251@gmail.com
9751660760

2. Definition of sentence can be put forth as
1. A sentence is a complete set of words that conveys meaning. A
sentence can communicate.
2. A sentence is a word or a group of words expressing a complete
idea.
3. A sentence is the largest unit of any language. It is generally
defined as a word or a group of words that expresses a
thorough idea by giving a statement/order, or asking a
question, or exclaiming.
4. A sentence is a grammatical unit of one or more words that
start with a capital letter and ends with a full stop or its equal
and expresses an Independent statement.
What is a Sentence?

3. According to the purpose of the utterance we distinguish
four kinds of sentences:
 the declarative sentence
 the interrogative sentence
 the imperative sentence
 the exclamatory sentence
Four Kinds of Sentences

4. 1. A declarative sentence states a fact in the affirmative or negative
form.
This is a book. (+)
She is not a good student. (–)
Negative sentences are formed using the negative particle “not”
which is put after the verb (auxiliary, modal, link verb).
E.g. I do not like rainy weather.
Negative pronouns (no-one, none, neither, nothing, no, etc.),
negative adverbs (never, nowhere, etc.) and some other words (hardly,
refuse, without, etc.) are also used to express negation.
E.g. She never walks alone.

5. 2. Interrogative sentences ask questions.
E.g. Where do you live?
What do you want?
Where are you from?
Why are you late?
How are you?
3. Impérative sentences express commands, requests, invitations, etc.
E.g. Stand up.
Open the door, will you?
4. An exclamatory sentence expresses some kind of emotion or feeling
(joy, anger, grief, wonder, etc). It often begins with the words “What”
and “How”.
E.g. How wonderful!
What fine weather we are having today!

6. A sentence is composed of one or more clauses. A clause
contains a subject and a verb.
Independent and Dependent Clauses
There are two types of clauses: independent clauses and
dependent clauses.
A sentence contains at least one independent clause and
may contain one or more dependent clauses.
An independent clause (or main clause) is a complete
thought and can stand by itself.
A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is an
incomplete thought and it cannot stand by itself.

7. Simple sentence definition
A simple sentence contains one independent clause.
A sentence which has only one subject followed by a finite
verb in the predicate part is known as the simple sentence.
Examples
1. Johnny rode his bike to school.
2. Who is your best friend?
3. Dogs bark.
4. The earth moves around the sun.
5. Harsh bought a pen.

8. A simple sentence is the basic building block of all sentences.
A simple sentence must have a main verb/verb group and a
subject, and it must make complete sense on its own.
1. Simple sentences must have a verb.
2. Simple sentences must have a subject.
3. Simple sentences must express a complete idea.
4. Simple sentences can vary in length and style.

9. Compound sentence definition
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses.
Coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) often
links the two independent clauses and is preceded by a comma.
Examples
1. She wanted to go on vacation, so she saved up her money.
2. I like apples, but my sister loves bananas.
3. Tim loves to read, and he also loves to hike.
A compound sentence must have more than one independent
clause with no dependent clauses. Some specific conjunctions,
punctuation, or both are used to join together these clauses.
Example:
I always wanted to become a writer, and she wanted to
become a doctor. (Two independent clauses – two verbs)

10. A sentence in which two independent clauses are joined by a
coordinator is known as a compound sentence.
A compound sentence is formed by joining one simple
sentence (independent clause) to another.
1. Use a comma (,) before coordinating conjunction while writing a
compound sentence.
2. Some common conjunctive adverbs (compound sentences) are:
also, conversely, for example, furthermore, however, indeed, in
addition, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, namely,
nevertheless, otherwise, similarly, subsequently, then, therefore.
3. Use a semicolon (;) before and a comma (,) after conjunctive
adverbs while using them to form compound sentences.

11. Complex sentence definition
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and
one or more dependent clauses.
A complex sentence will include at least one
subordinating conjunction.
Examples
1. She went to class even though she was sick.
2. As John was arriving to work, he realized he forgot his
lunch.
3. While I enjoy classical music, I prefer rock and roll
because I play the drums.
A complex sentence also has more than one clause but of
one them must be an independent clause and the other/others
must be (a) dependent clause(es).
There are also some particular connectors for the clauses
of a complex sentence to be connected.

12. A sentence which consists of the main clause (an
independent clause) and one or more subordinate (dependent)
clause is known as a complex sentence.
A complex sentence consists of an independent clause
(simple sentence) and one or more dependent clauses
(subordinating clauses). The dependent clause is introduced by
either subordinate conjunction (for an adverbial clause) or a relative
pronoun (for an adjectival clause).
1. Some common subordinating conjunctions (adverbial clauses)
are: after, (al)though, as, because, before, if, once, since, unless,
until, when, while.
2. When the dependent clause goes before the independent
clause, the clauses are separated by a comma.
3. Do not use a comma if the dependent clause comes after the
independent clause.
4. Relative pronouns (adjectival clauses) who/that, whom, whose
(people); that, which (animals, things).

13. Functions of Simple Sentences
1. Use simple sentences when presenting a limited amount of information.
2. Although simple sentences may be shorter, they are not any less
academic than other sentence types.
 To declare a direct statement.
E.g. First, I will give background information about my project.
This conclusion is supported by extensive evidence.
 To display a simple list.
E.g. The researchers created their hypothesis, conducted some
tests, and drew their conclusions.
My evidence comes from journal articles, periodicals, and
books.
 To give concise directions.
E.g. Please consider my application for the internship.
Turn to Table 1 in the appendix.
 To ask a question.
E.g. What is the true meaning of the poem?
What will this study mean to medical research in a decade?

14. Functions of Compound and Complex Sentences
To combine similar ideas
1. Compound: Recycling is an effective way of helping the
environment, and everyone should recycle at home.
2. Complex: Since recycling is an effective way of helping the
environment, everyone should recycle at home.
To compare or contrast ideas
1. Compound: Van Gogh was a talented and successful artist, but he
had intense personal issues.
2. Complex: Although he was a talented and successful artist, Van
Gogh had intense personal issues.

15. Functions of Compound and Complex Sentences
To convey cause and effect or chain of events
1. Compound: The researchers did not come to the correct
conclusion, so they restructured their hypothesis.
2. Complex: Since the researchers did not come to the correct
conclusion, they restructured their hypothesis.
To elaborate on a claim or extend reasoning
1. Compound: Cell phones should not be permitted in class, for
they distract students and teachers.
2. Complex: Since cell phones distract students and teachers, they
should not be used in class.

16. References:
1. Types of Sentences.
https://www.tspu.edu.ru/tspu/files/fia/files/types_of_sentences.pdf
2. Andersen, Sarah. Sentence Types and Functions.
https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Sentence%20Typ
es%20and%20Functions.pdf
3. Sentence: Definition & Types. https://www.learngrammar.net/english-
grammar/sentence-definition-n-types
4. Simple, Compound and Complex Sentence.
http://www.osou.ac.in/eresources/Simple%20Compound%20and%20
Complex%20Sentences.pdf
5. Sentence types.
https://www.une.edu.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14435/WC_Sente
nce-types.pdf

17. Thank you