172 English Grammar Demystifi ed
of punctuation, simple sentences can be combined to produce compound, complex,
and compound-complex ones. For example:
Doreen could fi nish the task. Lily knew she wouldn’t.When you read the two preceding simple sentences, you can easily understand what
they mean. The question, however, is this: How can you express this idea using an
interesting style that clarifi es the idea even more? The answer is to add a small word
that allows you to bring the two sentences together to form a compound one:
Doreen could fi nish the task, yet Lily knew she wouldn’t.The small connecting word yet establishes a contrast between what Doreen could
do and what Lily, by contrast, knows Doreen will do. Clearly, a connecting word can
pack a meaningful wallop!
By the time you fi nish studying this chapter, you will know the differences among
the four types of sentences covered: simple, compound, complex, and compound-
complex. Obviously, sentence variety will make your writing more interesting. For
example, read the following paragraph containing fi ve simple sentences. No variety
there! You will learn how to use combining words and punctuation to add variety to
this paragraph and to your writing.
A solitary mouse lived in the Timothy house. He crept about late at night. He
looked for food. His enemy was always waiting for him. His enemy was the
family cat.Sentence building begins by reviewing the different kinds of English sentences.
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence is an independent clause containing a subject, a verb, and a com-
plete thought. For example:
Visualization prepares athletes for success.No punctuation, other than a period, is necessary in this simple sentence. You can
even add a compound subject, and the sentence remains a simple one: