English (Biplab Ghosh Blogs)

Types of Sentences

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There are three types of sentences – simple sentence, compound sentence, and complex sentence. It is important to identify each one of these sentences. You have two reasons for this. One, they will help you to frame sentences. Two, questions related to types of sentences are common in UPSC Mains English Compulsory exam apart from other exams. In this blog, the definition, concept, and identification procedure of these three types of sentences will be purely theoretical. This is worth mentioning because in the class I use an innovative technique to identify and conceptualise these three kinds of sentences. In the three paragraphs given below, each one of the three types is elucidated.

A simple sentence contains only one independent clause. This means that the sentence has a complete meaning. Also, there is no separate part in the statement that is discreet in meaning to the other part. Identifying a simple sentence will in no way involve the size of the sentence. It may be big or, small – doesn’t matter. Let us try out some examples: The children are thrilled with the pasta on their plates or, Those principles have been written down in black and white. You can see in these two sentences that every word is related to the meaning of the sentence. That means, there is only one independent clause in these sentences.

A compound sentence is one in which there are at least two clauses. Both the clauses need to be independent i.e. both the clauses must stand independently with their respective meanings. To make it simpler, the compound sentence will have two distinct parts, each one capable of becoming a separate sentence with complete meaning. When you go through the newspapers, try out figuring out a sentence where there are at least two parts. Then, try taking those parts apart and considering them as individual statements. This way, your practice will be perfect.

A complex sentence is one in which there is a minimum of one independent clause and a subordinating clause. Now, a subordinating clause is a separate part of a sentence that cannot stand on its own without the support of the independent clause. In other words, a subordinate clause does not possess a complete meaning of its own. For example, some workmen were digging the mint which was meant for themselves. See this sentence carefully. The part of the sentence “which ….. themselves”, if taken apart from the sentence will not carry a meaning of its own. But the part, “some ….. mint” does have a complete meaning of its own. In conclusion, I must say again that identifying these three types of sentences is important because, in the exam, they will ask you to convert one into another. So, happy identifying, guys!!!!!!!