Created by Austin Peay State University, 3 April 2012; revised 24 January 2017
Academic Support Center
Writing Center
Sentence Forms
Resources: The LB Brief Handbook, 5th edition; Middle Tennessee State
University; and The Complete Writer’s Workout Book
There are four types of sentences, and using all four types throughout your paper
will add variety and keep your reader’s attention. The four types of sentences are
simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. All of these sentence
types are made up of combinations of independent and dependent clauses. An
independent clause can stand on its own as a complete sentence, but a
dependent clause must be attached to another sentence.
Examples:
Independent clause: The whale swam out to the open sea. (Italics will be
used to indicate independent clauses throughout this handout).
Dependent clause: Before I go to work. (Bold will be used to indicate
dependent clauses throughout this handout).
Dependent clauses must be connected to an independent clause because they
depend on an independent clause to complete their meaning. Dependent clauses
normally start with subordinating conjunctions (because, although, after, before,
when, etc.) or relative pronouns (which, who, & that).
Types of Sentences
Simple Sentence: A simple sentence consists of one independent clause and no
dependent clauses.
My dog had puppies.
The unusually hot summer weather made farming quite difficult.
