Lecture 1: Sentence, Clause, and Complex Sentences

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Learning outcomes

• define sentence and clause clearly
• classify simple, compound, and complex sentences
• identify independent and dependent clauses
• avoid common sentence-structure MCQ traps

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Key definitions

• Sentence: complete thought with grammatical structure.
• Clause: group of words with subject + predicate.
• Independent clause: can stand alone as a sentence.
• Dependent clause: cannot stand alone; depends on main clause.

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Sentence types by clause structure

• Simple sentence: one independent clause.
  • Example: “The class ended.”
• Compound sentence: two independent clauses, usually joined by coordinator.
  • Example: “The class ended, and we left.”
• Complex sentence: one independent clause + at least one dependent clause.
  • Example: “We left when the class ended.”

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Markers of dependent clauses

• because, although, when, if, since, while, unless, after, before

• “I stayed home because it rained.”
• “Although he was tired, he finished the task.”

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Clause boundary practice

1. “When the bell rang, students moved out.”
   • dependent: “When the bell rang”
   • independent: “students moved out”
2. “The teacher explained the topic clearly.”
   • one independent clause only

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Exam hints and traps

• A sentence may start with dependent clause and still be complex.
• A long sentence is not automatically compound or complex.
• A phrase has no finite verb; a clause has one.
• If both parts can stand alone, likely compound (not complex).

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Quick practice

1. “If you call me, I will help.”
2. “She opened the book and read silently.”
3. “The lights went out.”
4. “Although it was late, they continued.”

1. Complex
2. Compound
3. Simple
4. Complex