First, you should read How to Write a Sentence: #1
There are three types of sentences in English: SIMPLE, COMPOUND, & COMPLEX.
All sentences must contain a subject, a verb with tense, and they must have meaning.
You need to know which type of sentences you are writing, so that you can apply the appropriate rules. So, here we go …
♦ SIMPLE SENTENCES Simple Sentences have one subject and one main (complete) verb,
You are reading this blog.
Who is hugging that girl?
OR two subjects and one main verb,
The girl and the paper man love each other.
OR one subject and two main verbs,
She is hugging him and smiling. (Verbs: is hugging & is smiling)
OR two subjects and two main verbs.
The paper man and the girl are hugging each other and smiling.
Look at the following sentence. It is a Simple Sentence because it has one subject and one verb.
The beautiful tropical gardens across the road from my old school were destroyed in the earthquake last month.
The sentence has a lot of ‘extra stuff’, but when you take out this ‘extra stuff’, what is left?
The gardens were destroyed.
** Don’t be confused by long sentences with lots of adjectives, adverbs and prepositions. To understand the structure of a sentence, you need to find the verb first. Then, find the subject.
♦ COMPOUND SENTENCES Compound Sentences are formed when two or more Simple Sentences are joined (linked).
The gardens were destroyed and many houses were damaged.
The gardens were destroyed but my old school was not damaged.
The old school was not damaged so we are all relieved.
A Compound Sentence is composed of two or more sentences (independent clauses) which are joined by Co-ordinating Conjunctions. For a complete explanation of how Co-ordinating Conjunctions are used to make Compound Sentences, click here.
Click here for How to Write a Sentence: #3: COMPLEX SENTENCES
Mary's English Blog 