This document is based on the livestream tutorial from Smrt English

** Academic English** There are four basic types of English sentence: Simple sentence; compound sentence; complex sentence and compound-complex sentence

Simple sentence represents a complete thought in the form of an independent clause, and contains one subject and at least one main verb

I love reading books.

He works in a local univeristy.

Simple sentences can have a compound subject

Van and Ha study at Massey university, NZ.

Simple sentence can contain two or more main verbs as long as they refer to the same subject

My friend works in IT department and teaches English.

*Compound sentence

Note: FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so

Compound sentence represents two complete thoughts in the form of two independent clauses, joined by conjunction FANBOYS or punctuation. There are three ways of creating a compound sentence

  1. Comma + coordinating conjunction

                    [, for (introduce causation)
                 , and (addition)
                 , but (opposition or contrast)

    Independent clause 1 , nor (negative option), + independent clause 2 , or (option), , yet (suprising opposition), , so (introduce effect)]

I don’t like playing footbal, but I love badminton.

I bought a cook book, for I want to learn cooking.

I don’t have a lot of money, yet I live in a beautiful flat.

I am sick, so I don’t go to Uni today.

Do you want to have tea or coffee?

  1. Semi-comma (;)

I am sick; I don’t go to uni today.

  1. Semi-comma + conjunction adverb

Conjunction adverbs Addition: Addition, In addition, Furthermore, Moreover, and Also

Opposition: However, nevertheless,on the other hand

Effect: As a result, Therefore, Thus, Consequently

Note: consequently is used for negative output

Formula: Independent clause 1 + ;conjunction adverb, Independent clause 2

I want to travel to US; on the other hand, I might to visit Thailand.

*Complex sentence

Complex sentence is similar to compound sentence in that they contain two clauses joined by conjunction. However, they are different as complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

These are some common subordinating conjunctions that often begin a dependent clause

although, as, after,though,unless,until,whereas,while,when,whether,since,if,before, and because

Although I am tired, I get the work done.