Chapter 07-02: Sentence Variety – ALIC – Analyzing Language in Context

chapter 7: sentence variety

Before we can move on to effective and appropriate punctuation, it is important that you are able to understand the patterns of sentence variety. There are four basic forms of sentence variety:

simple
compound
complex
compound-complex.

We’ll examine each form with examples and conclude this chapter by analyzing a short passage.

As a reminder, remember that a sentence must have at least one independent clause to be grammatically correct, but most sentences will have more than one clause, so the goal is to identify the form of all of the clauses in each sentence to determine its sentence variety.

As always, whenever you analyze for clauses, you first identify all of the Main Verb Phrases, then find the subject. From there, you need to determine if a dependent marker precedes the subject. You will then determine if each clause is independent or dependent. Your analysis concludes when you count the number of independent and/or dependent clauses in the sentence to determine its variety form.

Simple – a sentence which contains one independent clause only

Example: In extending the reach of discourse analysis to engage with written text, we would do well, however, to remember some of the lessons learned in analysis of spoken language.

we would do well, however, to remember some of the lessons learned in analysis of spoken language.
One independent clause

NOTE: the introductory structure is not a clause (no main verb phrase).

in extending the reach – prepositional phrase
extending the reach – nominal gerund phrase (object of the preposition IN)
of discourse analysis – prepositional phrase
to engage – infinitive phrase
with written text – prepositional phrase

ALSO:

however – conjunctive adverb
to remember some of the lessons learned – infinitive phrase
learned – adjectival past participle phrase modifying LESSONS
in analysis – prepositional phrase
of spoken language – prepositional phrase
spoken – adjectival past participle phrase modifying LANGUAGE

Compound – a sentence which contains two or more independent clauses only

Example: Text analysis was developed earliest within
scriptural religions, for people were highly motivated to find meaning
from holy books such as the Bible, Talmud, Koran, or Baghavad Gita.

Text analysis was developed earliest within scriptural religions
people were highly motivated to find meaning from holy books such as the Bible, Talmud, Koran, or Baghavad Gita.
Two independent clauses

NOTE: Comma preceding the coordinating conjunction (FOR) is a KEY MARKER for coordinated independent clauses.

ALSO:

within scriptural religions – prepositional phrase
to find meaning – nominal infinitive phrase
from holy books – prepositional phrase
such as the Bible, Talmud, Koran, or Baghavad Gita – prepositional phrase

Complex – a sentence which contains only one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Example: To understand writing, we need to explore the
practices that people engage in to produce texts as well as the ways
that writing practices gain their meanings and functions as dynamic
elements of specific cultural settings.

we need to explore the practices that people engage in
One independent clause

that people engage in to produce texts – adjectival relative clause modifying PRACTICES
that writing practices gain their meanings and functions – adjectival relative clause modifying WAYS
Two dependent clauses

NOTE:

to understand writing – adverbial infinitive phrase
to produce texts – adverbial infinitive phrase
as well as the ways – prepositional phrase
as dynamic elements – prepositional phrase
of specific cultural settings – prepositional phrase

Compound-Complex – a sentence which contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Example: The absence of attention to writing as a social and productive practice has come about for reasons we discuss below, but the effect has been to severely limit the analysis of written text, closing off many lines of inquiry into how and why texts come to be as they are.

The absence of attention to writing as a social and productive practice has come about for reasons we discuss below
the effect has been to severely limit the analysis of written text
Two Independent Clauses
[that] we discuss below – adjectival relative clause (deleted THAT) modifying REASONS
how and why texts come to be – nominal interrogative clause (object of the preposition INTO)
as they are – adverbial subordinate clause modifying the infinitive phrase TO BE
Three Dependent Clauses

NOTE: Comma preceding the coordinating conjunction (FOR) is a KEY MARKER for coordinated independent clauses.

ALSO:

THE ABSENCE is the subject of the first independent clause
of attention – prepositional phrase
to writing – prepositional phrase
as a social and productive practice – prepositional phrase
to severely limit the analysis of written text – nominal infinitive phrase (direct object of HAS BEEN)
of written text – prepositional phrase
closing off many lines of inquiry – adverbial present participle phrase
of inquiry – prepositional phrase

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