4 Types of Sentences
We use a variety of sentence structures so that our writing remains fresh and interesting.
Simple sentences
- have a subject, verb and object
- express a complete thought
- have a main clause
Example: An adult panda eats about 20kg of bamboo a day.
Compound sentences
- combine two simple sentences
- connected by coordinating conjunctions (e.g. and, but, nor, for, or, yet)
- Use a comma before the coordinating conjunction when we use it to form a compound sentence
Example: An adult panda eats about 20kg of bamboo a day, and it poops around 50 times a day.
Example: Polar bears have slightly webbed feet to facilitate their swimming, but pandas do not have webbed feet.
Example: People flock to River Wonders, for they find the pandas incredibly cute.
Example: Pandas poop as often as 50 times a day, so some zoos are turning the poop into paper.
Complex Sentences
- Made up of one main clause and one subordinate clause (a subordinate clause cannot stand on its own meaningfully.)
- The subordinate clause adds information to the main clause and usually begins with a conjunction
- connected by subordinating connectors (e.g. before, after, since, until, while, when, as, if, although)
Example: While Jia Jia was playing with its enrichment toy, many visitors eagerly snapped pictures of it.
Example: Although pandas have the digestive system of a carnivore, they consume bamboo.
Compound-Complex Sentences
- two main clauses and one subordinate clause
Example: Although pandas mainly consume bamboo, they eat other foods occasionally, which include apples, carrots and even bugs!
