CHAPTER IX

KINDS OF SENTENCE AS TO FORM

We have seen that sentences, classified according to their meaning, are of four kinds: declarative (3), interrogative (4), imperative (5), and exclamatory (6). We shall now see that sentences, classified according to their form, or structure, are of three kinds: simple, compound, and complex.

58. Simple Sentence.-Note the following examples :

Each of the foregoing sentences consists of one subject and one predicate. The subject of the second sentence is compound; the predicate of the third sentence is compound; while both the subject and the predicate of the fourth sentence are compound. A sentence consisting of one subject and one predicate, either or both of which may be compound, is called a simple sentence.

A simple sentence is a sentence consisting of one subject and one predicate, either or both of which may be compound.

EXERCISE 44

(1) Show that all the sentences in Exercise 8 are simple sentences.

(2) Read "Castles in the Air" (Appendix) carefully. How many sentences are there in this selection? Nine of these sentences are simple; see if you can point them out.

-

59. Compound Sentence. Note the following sentence:

Some have too much, yet still they crave;

I have little, yet I seek no more.

The foregoing sentence consists of four clauses, all of which are principal, or independent, clauses. A sentence consisting of two or more principal clauses is called a compound sentence.

A compound sentence is a sentence consisting of two or more principal clauses.

Note again the foregoing illustrative sentence. You will observe that it is formed by uniting two lesser compound sentences into one. The single clauses are separated by commas, while the two larger members are separated by a semicolon. Such is the regular way of punctuating this type of compound sentence.

EXERCISE 45

(1) Tell which of the sentences in Exercise 42 are compound and point out the clauses in each.

(2) Read again "The Yellow Violet" (Appendix), find two compound sentences in it, and point out the clauses. Read also "Old Ironsides" (Appendix) again, find a compound sentence in it, and point out the clauses.

(3) Find five compound sentences in your reading and bring them to class.

(4) Note carefully the punctuation of all the compound sentences just referred to, then learn the following rules for punctuating compound sentences:

(a) If the members of a compound sentence are short and closely connected clauses, the clauses are separated by commas if separated at all.

(b) If the members of a compound sentence are long and loosely connected or are in reality lesser compound sentences containing commas, the larger members are separated by semicolons.

(5) Read "The Sagacity of the Spider" (Appendix) and find in it compound sentences to illustrate both the foregoing rules of punctuation.

60. Complex Sentence. -Note the following sen

tence:

He who tells a lie is not sensible how great a task he undertakes.

The foregoing sentence contains one principal clause, He is not sensible; and two subordinate clauses, who tells a lie and how great a task he undertakes. A sentence containing one or more subordinate clauses is called a complex sentence.

A complex sentence is a sentence containing one or more subordinate clauses.

One subordinate clause may depend upon another subordinate clause; thus,

He asked that we should wait until he should return.

Sometimes a complex sentence contains two or more principal clauses; thus,

When I awoke, it was broad daylight, the weather was clear, and the storm had abated.

The foregoing sentence contains four clauses, the first of which is subordinate, the rest are principal. A complex sentence containing two or more principal clauses is sometimes called a compound-complex sentence.

EXERCISE 46

(1) Point out the complex sentences in Exercises 39 and 42, also point out their clauses and tell which are principal and which are subordinate.

(2) Read "A Tribute to a Dog" (Appendix) and see how many complex sentences you can find in this selection. Point out the clauses in the first ten of these sentences and tell which are principal and which are subordinate. How many simple sentences are there in this selection?

(3) The larger members of a compound-complex sentence are usually separated by semicolons. Find eight sentences of this type in "The Sagacity of the Spider" (Appendix) and study the punctuation of these

sentences.

EXERCISE 47

(1) Tell whether each of the following sentences is simple, compound, or complex. Point out the clauses, and tell the rank of each, whether principal or subordinate.