THREE KINDS OF SENTENCES

There are three kinds of sentences: simple, compound, and complex. Look at the following samples to see how the three types of sentences differ from each other.

1. Simple sentence:

The book is organised into three distinct parts.

Simple sentences contain one independent clause that expresses a complete thought.

2. Compound sentence:

One was that the universe started its life a finite time ago in a single huge explosion, and that the present expansion is a relic of the violence of this explosion.

Compound sentences contain two (or more) independent clauses and no dependent clauses.

3. Complex sentence:

For when we look at our own galaxy there is not the smallest sign that such an explosion ever occurred.

Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Compound-complex sentencesare also possible. They combine the two categories, and can contain two or more independent clauses as well as one or more dependent clause. Here is an example of a compound-complex sentence:

This massive development got under way two years ago when the University of Edinburgh established its medical school next to the site of the Royal Infirmary, and the idea to develop a complex that combines top-class research and clinical expertise with a healthy dose of industry was born.

TIP:Here are a few simple sentence structure rules:

• Simple sentences are not necessarily short, but they must contain only one independent clause.

• In compound sentences, the two (or more) independent clauses must be related in thought.

• In complex sentences, the dependent clause clarifies the relationship between ideas. Often, these dependent clauses start with words like because, when, who, or where.

Task 39: IDENTIFYING SENTENCE STRUCTURE

For each sentence, identify its structure type. Underline independent clauses once. If there are dependent clauses in the sentences, underline them twice.

1. Last year, university science in Scotland received £1.1 million of Scottish government funding and £200 million from UK research councils.

2. Andrew Mills, a chemist who moved from Swansea to the University of Strathclyde nine years ago, is also pleased with his chosen location.

3. Scotland's life-science sector ranges much further than the creation of Dolly the sheep.

4. When the University of Edinburgh established its medical school right next to the Royal Infirmary, Scottish Enterprise spotted an opportunity.

5. It was early government support that led to the establishment of Wolfson Microelectronics, a spin-off company from the University of Edinburgh.

6. Before approving schemes like these, the government must weigh up the cost of sprouting wind turbines in unspoilt countryside or sinking tidal-power generators into ocean ecosystems.

7. A common method of judging success in science is how many times a publication is cited, and therefore how much impact it has.

Task 40. Find examples of sentences with different structures in text B. Put down and translate the sentences.