Review exercise: Sentence structure

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By learning to name the different types of sentences, you will develop a more sophisticated understanding of how language works. Indicate whether each of the following examples is a simple sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence or compound-complex sentence.

1. Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and Toronto is the capital of Ontario.

Oops!

Question:
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound sentence because it contains two independent clauses joined by the co-ordinating conjunction and.

Good work!

Question:
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound sentence because it contains two independent clauses joined by the co-ordinating conjunction and.

Oops!

Question:
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound sentence because it contains two independent clauses joined by the co-ordinating conjunction and.

Oops!

Question:
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, and Toronto is the capital of Ontario.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound sentence because it contains two independent clauses joined by the co-ordinating conjunction and.

2. Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.

Oops!

Question:
Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a special type of compound sentence where the two independent clauses (democracy is a noble goal and it is important, however, to protect the minority . . .) are joined by a semicolon instead of a co-ordinating conjunction.

Good work!

Question:
Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a special type of compound sentence where the two independent clauses (democracy is a noble goal and it is important, however, to protect the minority . . .) are joined by a semicolon instead of a co-ordinating conjunction.

Oops!

Question:
Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a special type of compound sentence where the two independent clauses (democracy is a noble goal and it is important, however, to protect the minority . . .) are joined by a semicolon instead of a co-ordinating conjunction.

Oops!

Question:
Democracy is a noble goal; it is important, however, to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a special type of compound sentence where the two independent clauses (democracy is a noble goal and it is important, however, to protect the minority . . .) are joined by a semicolon instead of a co-ordinating conjunction.

3. I do not own a Porsche.

Good work!

Question:
I do not own a Porsche.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence containing only one independent clause.

Oops!

Question:
I do not own a Porsche.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence containing only one independent clause.

Oops!

Question:
I do not own a Porsche.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence containing only one independent clause.

Oops!

Question:
I do not own a Porsche.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence containing only one independent clause.

4. Call your team leader as soon as you arrive in Antigonish.

Oops!

Question:
Call your team leader as soon as you arrive in Antigonish.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause as soon as you arrive in Antigonish. If that information were in the form of a phrase instead of a clause, the sentence would be a simple sentence as follows:
Answer:
Call your team leader upon your arrival in Antigonish.

Oops!

Question:
Call your team leader as soon as you arrive in Antigonish.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause as soon as you arrive in Antigonish. If that information were in the form of a phrase instead of a clause, the sentence would be a simple sentence as follows:
Answer:
Call your team leader upon your arrival in Antigonish.

Good work!

Question:
Call your team leader as soon as you arrive in Antigonish.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause as soon as you arrive in Antigonish. If that information were in the form of a phrase instead of a clause, the sentence would be a simple sentence as follows:
Answer:
Call your team leader upon your arrival in Antigonish.

Oops!

Question:
Call your team leader as soon as you arrive in Antigonish.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause as soon as you arrive in Antigonish. If that information were in the form of a phrase instead of a clause, the sentence would be a simple sentence as follows:
Answer:
Call your team leader upon your arrival in Antigonish.

5. Joe ate the sushi and left the restaurant.

Good work!

Question:
Joe ate the sushi and left the restaurant.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. It is easy to see why some might think that it is a compound sentence, since it contains the co-ordinating conjunction and. However, this conjunction actually joins two predicates—ate the sushi and left the restaurant—within a single clause. The clue that you are dealing with a compound predicate rather than a compound subject is the fact that there is only one subject: I.

Oops!

Question:
Joe ate the sushi and left the restaurant.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. It is easy to see why you may have thought that it is a compound sentence, since it contains the co-ordinating conjunction and. However, this conjunction actually joins two predicates—ate the sushi and left the restaurant—within a single clause. The clue that you are dealing with a compound predicate rather than a compound subject is the fact that there is only one subject: I.

Oops!

Question:
Joe ate the sushi and left the restaurant.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. It is easy to see why you may have thought that it is a compound sentence, since it contains the co-ordinating conjunction and. However, this conjunction actually joins two predicates—ate the sushi and left the restaurant—within a single clause. The clue that you are dealing with a compound predicate rather than a compound subject is the fact that there is only one subject: I.

Oops!

Question:
Joe ate the sushi and left the restaurant.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. It is easy to see why you may have thought that it is a compound sentence, since it contains the co-ordinating conjunction and. However, this conjunction actually joins two predicates—ate the sushi and left the restaurant—within a single clause. The clue that you are dealing with a compound predicate rather than a compound subject is the fact that there is only one subject: I.

6. Unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit, I will not have time to write this report.

Oops!

Question:
Unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit, I will not have time to write this report.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence containing the independent clause I will not have time to write this report and the dependent clause unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit. Note the subordinating conjunction unless at the beginning of the dependent clause.

Oops!

Question:
Unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit, I will not have time to write this report.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence containing the independent clause I will not have time to write this report and the dependent clause unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit. Note the subordinating conjunction unless at the beginning of the dependent clause.

Good work!

Question:
Unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit, I will not have time to write this report.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence containing the independent clause I will not have time to write this report and the dependent clause unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit. Note the subordinating conjunction unless at the beginning of the dependent clause.

Oops!

Question:
Unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit, I will not have time to write this report.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence containing the independent clause I will not have time to write this report and the dependent clause unless my friend in Calgary postpones her visit. Note the subordinating conjunction unless at the beginning of the dependent clause.

7. Suzanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.

Oops!

Question:
Suzanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound-complex sentence. First, it contains two independent clauses—Suzanne wanted to be here and she cannot come because her car is in the shop—joined by the co-ordinating conjunction but. The second independent clause, however, contains the dependent clause because her car is in the shop making the sentence complex as well as compound.

Oops!

Question:
Suzanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound-complex sentence. First, it contains two independent clauses—Suzanne wanted to be here and she cannot come because her car is in the shop—joined by the co-ordinating conjunction but. The second independent clause, however, contains the dependent clause because her car is in the shop making the sentence complex as well as compound.

Oops!

Question:
Suzanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound-complex sentence. First, it contains two independent clauses—Suzanne wanted to be here and she cannot come because her car is in the shop—joined by the co-ordinating conjunction but. The second independent clause, however, contains the dependent clause because her car is in the shop making the sentence complex as well as compound.

Good work!

Question:
Suzanne wanted to be here, but she cannot come because her car is in the shop.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a compound-complex sentence. First, it contains two independent clauses—Suzanne wanted to be here and she cannot come because her car is in the shop—joined by the co-ordinating conjunction but. The second independent clause, however, contains the dependent clause because her car is in the shop making the sentence complex as well as compound.

8. The football game was cancelled because it was raining.

Oops!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because it was raining.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause because it was raining.

Oops!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because it was raining.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause because it was raining.

Good work!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because it was raining.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause because it was raining.

Oops!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because it was raining.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence because it contains the dependent clause because it was raining.

9. The football game was cancelled because of the rain.

Good work!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because of the rain.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. The second part, because of the rain, is a phrase rather than a clause.

Oops!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because of the rain.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. The second part, because of the rain, is a phrase rather than a clause.

Oops!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because of the rain.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. The second part, because of the rain, is a phrase rather than a clause.

Oops!

Question:
The football game was cancelled because of the rain.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a simple sentence. The second part, because of the rain, is a phrase rather than a clause.

10. When the train arrives, and if Ms. Lang is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.

Oops!

Question:
When the train arrives, and if Ms. Lang is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.
Answer:
The answer simple sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence. At first glance, it might look like a compound-complex sentence because of the conjunction and joining the two dependent clauses when the train arrives and if Ms. Lang is on it. However, since there is only one independent clause in the sentence (she will be served with a subpoena), it cannot be compound.

Oops!

Question:
When the train arrives, and if Ms. Lang is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.
Answer:
The answer compound sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence. At first glance, it might look like a compound-complex sentence because of the conjunction and joining the two dependent clauses when the train arrives and if Ms. Lang is on it. However, since there is only one independent clause in the sentence (she will be served with a subpoena), it cannot be compound.

Good work!

Question:
When the train arrives, and if Ms. Lang is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.
Answer:
The answer complex sentence is correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence. At first glance, it might look like a compound-complex sentence because of the conjunction and joining the two dependent clauses when the train arrives and if Ms. Lang is on it. However, since there is only one independent clause in the sentence (she will be served with a subpoena), it cannot be compound.

Oops!

Question:
When the train arrives, and if Ms. Lang is on it, she will be served with a subpoena.
Answer:
The answer compound-complex sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
This is a complex sentence. At first glance, it might look like a compound-complex sentence because of the conjunction and joining the two dependent clauses when the train arrives and if Ms. Lang is on it. However, since there is only one independent clause in the sentence (she will be served with a subpoena), it cannot be compound.

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