1. My car battery died, so I called to have it towed for repairs.
Compound
This sentence is compound because it consists of two independent clauses “My car battery died” and “I called to have it towed for repairs” joined by the coordinating conjunction “so.”
2. I’m not going to buy my tickets in advance because there should be plenty of seats and I’m not positive if I’ll make it on time, so it’s better to wait, right?
Compound-complex
A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clause and at least one dependent clause, like the sentence above, which has three independent clauses: “I’m not going to buy my tickets in advance” “I’m not positive” and “it’s better to wait, right?”, joined by the coordinating conjunctions “and” and “so,” and two dependent clauses: “because there should be plenty of seats” and “if I’ll make it on time”
3. Our two-week vacation starts on Saturday!
Simple
A simple sentence consists of one independent clause only. An independent clause is a group of related words with at least a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. The sentence is a simple sentence because it has a subject: “Our two-week vacation” and a verb “starts” and it expresses a complete idea.
4. The missing document in the file cabinet.
Fragment
This is a fragment because even though it looks like a sentence (it begins with a capital letter and ends with a period), it is not one since it does not express a complete idea on its own. In order to fix this construction, we must place within a sentence.
5. If you run, my puppy will chase you; she will think you’re playing a game.
Compound-complex
It is compound-complex because it has one dependent clause: “If you run” and two independent clauses: “my puppy will chase you” and “she will think you’re playing a game” joined by a semicolon.
6. I’m so excited about our trip we’re leaving in three days!
Run-on sentence
It is a run-on sentence because it consists of two independent clauses (“I’m so excited about our trip” “we’re leaving in three days!”) that are not joined at all, and therefore, is not correct. In order o fix it, we must join the clauses with a semicolon, a period or conjunction.
7. I’m going to ride my bicycle to the movie theater tonight.
Simple
It is a simple sentence because it has a subject: “I” and a verb “am going to ride” and it expresses a complete thought on its own.
8. Timothy said he’ll call when his plane lands, but if you don’t hear from him by this afternoon, call me.
Compound-complex
This is a compound-complex sentence because it consists of two independent clauses: “he’ll call when his plane lands” and “call me” and two dependent clauses: “Timothy said” and “if you don’t hear from him by this afternoon.”
9. I’m going to stay into study tonight because I have a midterm test tomorrow morning.
Complex
This sentence is complex because it has one independent clause (“I’m going to stay into study tonight”) and one dependent clause (“because I have a midterm test tomorrow morning.”)
10. My gardening efforts weren’t as successful this year since only the tomatoes grew.
Complex
It is complex because it consists of one independent clause (“My gardening efforts weren’t as successful this year”) and one dependent clause (“since only the tomatoes grew.”)
11. By the front door on the lower level of the shoe rack.
Fragment
Even though the sentence looks like a sentence (it begins with a capital letter and ends with a period), it is not one because it does not express a complete idea on its own, and therefore, it is a fragment.
12. The roads were covered with ice, and the dangerous conditions kept people indoors for the night.
Compound
It is compound as it consists of two independent clauses “The roads were covered with ice” “the dangerous conditions kept people indoors for the night” joined by the coordinating conjunction “and”
13. The flowers in my garden attract bees and butterflies.
Simple
It is simple because it has a subject (“The flowers in my garden”) and a verb (“attract”) and it expresses a complete thought on its own.
14. The moors, which were covered in heather, appeared mystical under the gray mist.
Complex
It is complex because it has one independent clause (The moors appeared mystical under the gray mist) and one dependent clause (which were covered in heather), that is set off by commas which indicates that it can be removed and the meaning of the sentence would not change.
15. My favorite type of food is Japanese, especially sushi, I wish I knew how to make it myself.
Run-on sentence
This is a run-on sentence because it has two independent clauses (“My favorite type of food is Japanese, especially sushi,” and “I wish I knew how to make it myself”) that are connected improperly with a comma, when, instead, they should be joined by a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.
