🗺️ SENTENCE TYPES GRAMMAR MAP

SIMPLE SENTENCE (1 Independent Clause)

Contains one subject and one predicate expressing a complete thought.

(+) Positive The cat slept on the mat • Tom and Mary play tennis

(-) Negative The cat didn't sleep

(?) Question Did the cat sleep?

COMPOUND & COMPLEX SENTENCES (Multiple Clauses)

Compound joins clauses with AND/BUT/SO; Complex joins main and sub-clause with BECAUSE/WHEN/IF.

(+) Positive I was tired, but I stayed up • I stayed at home because it rained

(-) Negative didn't go out because it was cold

(?) Question Did you stay home because it rained?

1. Form & Structure

3 Main Sentence Types Structure Matrix

1. Simple Sentence: 1 Independent Clause → She likes coffee.
2. Compound Sentence: 2 Independent Clauses + Coordinating Conjunction (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) → She likes coffee, but he prefers tea.
3. Complex Sentence: 1 Independent + 1 Dependent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction (because, although, when, if, after) → Because it was raining, we stayed inside.

Example / Question	Positive / Short Answer	Negative / Short Answer
Simple Sentence	I study English every day.	1 Clause
Compound Sentence	I studied hard, so I passed the exam.	2 Independent Clauses (FANBOYS)
Complex Sentence	If you work hard, you will succeed.	1 Independent + 1 Subordinate

2. Key Rules & Formation

Rule	Base / Standard Form	Applied Form
Subordinate Clause Punctuation Rule	If the dependent clause comes FIRST in a complex sentence, put a COMMA after it. If it comes second, NO comma is needed!	Because I was tired, I slept early. vs I slept early because I was tired.

3. Practical Usage & Examples

1. Varying Writing Style & Expression

Combine ideas to write sophisticated essays and emails.

Although it was cold, we went swimming, and we had a great time.

4. Signal Words & Usage Context

simple sentencecompound sentencecomplex sentenceFANBOYSbecausewhenif

Clause Check:

Check: Are both halves complete sentences? Use a FANBOYS conjunction (and, but, so)!

💡 Common Mistakes & Memory Tips

Mistake 1: Creating a run-on sentence without conjunctions
❌ Incorrect: I was tired I went to bed.
✓ Correct: I was tired, so I went to bed.
Note: Two clauses must be connected with a conjunction.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does FANBOYS stand for?

FANBOYS is an acronym for the 7 coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

1. Form & Structure

3 Main Sentence Types Structure Matrix

1. Simple Sentence: 1 Independent Clause → She likes coffee.

2. Compound Sentence: 2 Independent Clauses + Coordinating Conjunction (FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) → She likes coffee, but he prefers tea.

3. Complex Sentence: 1 Independent + 1 Dependent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction (because, although, when, if, after) → Because it was raining, we stayed inside.

Example / Question	Positive / Short Answer	Negative / Short Answer
Simple Sentence	I study English every day.	1 Clause
Compound Sentence	I studied hard, so I passed the exam.	2 Independent Clauses (FANBOYS)
Complex Sentence	If you work hard, you will succeed.	1 Independent + 1 Subordinate

2. Key Rules & Formation

Rule	Base / Standard Form	Applied Form
Subordinate Clause Punctuation Rule	If the dependent clause comes FIRST in a complex sentence, put a COMMA after it. If it comes second, NO comma is needed!	Because I was tired, I slept early. vs I slept early because I was tired.

Sentence Types

1. Form & Structure

3 Main Sentence Types Structure Matrix

2. Key Rules & Formation

3. Practical Usage & Examples

1. Varying Writing Style & Expression

4. Signal Words & Usage Context

💡 Common Mistakes & Memory Tips

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does FANBOYS stand for?

Sentence Types

1. Form & Structure

3 Main Sentence Types Structure Matrix

2. Key Rules & Formation

3. Practical Usage & Examples

1. Varying Writing Style & Expression

4. Signal Words & Usage Context

💡 Common Mistakes & Memory Tips

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does FANBOYS stand for?

Other Sentence Structure lessons

Practice Exercises