Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
We learned that sentences are made of groups of words. We use parts of speech to create phrases and clauses. Clauses can be connected with conjunctions to create different types of sentences. Let's review how these groups of words are different.
In this last part of Unit 1, we look at what makes a good sentence in Standard English. We will discuss the specific requirements for writing complete sentences. Also, we will look at how we can use conjunctions to connect clauses and create different types of sentences.
We learned that sentences are made of groups of words. We use parts of speech to create phrases and clauses. Clauses can be connected with conjunctions to create different types of sentences. Let's review how these groups of words are different:
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phrase: a group of words that do not have both a subject and a verb;
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clause: a group of words that does have both a subject and a verb;
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sentence: a group of words that has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
To have a complete sentence, we need to:
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begin with a capital letter.
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end with a period. The other possible punctuation marks are a question mark (?) and an exclamation point (!). These are not used often. Use a period at the end of most sentences.
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include a subject and verb.
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be careful to write a complete thought.
Simple sentences consist of just one independent clause; a simple sentence requires only one punctuation mark at the end (a full stop, exclamation, or question mark).
The essay was late.
Compound sentences are made by joining simple sentences. We join sentences that are closely related in content to make the writing more fluid. We can join simple sentences with a comma and a word such as: and, but, so, yet.
The essay was late, so he lost marks.
Complex sentences are made when we combine an independent clause with a dependent clause. The dependent clause in the following example is in italics.
Because his essay was late, he lost marks.
When the dependent clause comes first, as in the example above, it is separated from the independent clause with a comma. When the sentence begins with the independent clause, there is no need to separate the clauses with a comma.
He lost marks because the essay was late.
Sources:
Text adapted from Washtenaw Community College, https://libguides.wccnet.edu/ld.php?content_id=46127140
https://studentservices.op.ac.nz/learning-support/structuring-text-sentence-structure/ 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Text on simple, compound, complex sentences adapted from Otago Polytechnic, https://studentservices.op.ac.nz/learning-support/structuring-text-sentence-structure/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License.
Video: J Haynes-Hughes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sByVj09GRcc
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.