1.1.3 Sentence & Clause Types

• Complex sentence

  • A complex sentence is formed when you join a main clause and a subordinate clause with a connective.
• Compound sentence

  • A compound sentence is formed when you join two main clauses with a connective.
• Main clause

  • A main clause is a clause that contains a subject, verb and an object. Main clauses make sense on their own.
• Simple sentence

  • A simple sentence has one clause. It only has a verb and a subject.
• Subordinate clause

  • A subordinate clause is one that relies on a main clause to make sense - it contains a subject and a verb, and adds extra information to the sentence. It needs to be attached to a main clause because it cannot make sense on its own.