An Introduction to Sentence Types and Basic Sentence Trees

Simple Sentence

Every sentence must contain a noun phrase and a verb phrase (in some sentences the noun phrase may be null).

Coordinate Sentence

Every coordinate sentence must contain at least two simple sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction.

Complex Sentence

Every complex sentence must contain one simple sentence and at least one dependant clause that includes a subordinating conjunction and a simple sentence.

Complex-Coordinate Sentence (example 1)

Complex-Coordinate Sentence (example 2)

Every complex-coordinate sentence must contain at least two simple sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction and at least one dependant clause that includes a subordinating conjunction and a sentence.


Please note: Because of the recursive nature of language a coordinate sentence could have an unlimited number of simple sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions, and a complex sentence could have an unlimited number of dependant clauses joined by subordinating conjunctions, and a complex-coordinate sentence could have an unlimited number of simple sentences joined by coordinating conjunctions and dependant clauses joined by subordinating conjunctions, and, and, and, and.....