Master the Building Blocks of Academic Writing
Every sentence you'll ever write starts here. Master the simple sentence, and everything else becomes easy.
A simple sentence has ONE independent clause. It can be short or long, but it expresses only ONE complete idea.
Click the correct answer. Is this a simple sentence?
Combine these words into a grammatically correct simple sentence.
Words: quickly / the / ran / dog / away
The dog ran away quickly.
The dog quickly ran away.
Quickly, the dog ran away.
Words: coffee / morning / drinks / every / she / hot
She drinks hot coffee every morning.
Every morning, she drinks hot coffee.
Words: expensive / the / restaurant / very / was / new
The new restaurant was very expensive.
Words: park / children / happily / the / played / in / the
The children played happily in the park.
The children happily played in the park.
Words: loudly / neighbor / complains / our / always
Our neighbor always complains loudly.
Our neighbor complains loudly always.
A compound sentence joins two or more independent clauses (complete thoughts) using coordinating conjunctions.
Punctuation Rule: Use a COMMA before the FANBOYS conjunction when joining two independent clauses.
Join these simple sentences using an appropriate FANBOYS conjunction.
1. I was tired.
2. I kept working.
I was tired, but I kept working.
I was tired, yet I kept working.
1. The movie was boring.
2. We left early.
The movie was boring, so we left early.
1. She studied hard.
2. She passed the exam.
She studied hard, and she passed the exam.
She studied hard, so she passed the exam.
1. You can take the bus.
2. You can walk to the station.
You can take the bus, or you can walk to the station.
1. He doesn't like coffee.
2. He doesn't like tea.
He doesn't like coffee, nor does he like tea.
(Note: After "nor", we invert the subject and auxiliary verb)
1. The hotel was expensive.
2. The location was perfect.
The hotel was expensive, but the location was perfect.
The hotel was expensive, yet the location was perfect.
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone - it needs the main clause.
These words START dependent clauses:
Punctuation Rule: Use a COMMA after the dependent clause ONLY when it comes FIRST.
Join these using an appropriate subordinating conjunction.
1. She passed the exam.
2. She studied every day.
She passed the exam because she studied every day.
Because she studied every day, she passed the exam.
1. I will wait here.
2. You come back.
I will wait here until you come back.
Until you come back, I will wait here.
1. The restaurant was crowded.
2. We found a table quickly.
Although the restaurant was crowded, we found a table quickly.
We found a table quickly even though the restaurant was crowded.
1. The alarm went off.
2. Everyone evacuated the building.
When the alarm went off, everyone evacuated the building.
As soon as the alarm went off, everyone evacuated the building.
1. You don't study.
2. You won't pass the test.
If you don't study, you won't pass the test.
You won't pass the test unless you study.
1. I finished work.
2. I called my mother.
After I finished work, I called my mother.
I called my mother after I finished work.
Once I finished work, I called my mother.
Add commas where needed (or remove incorrect ones).
This is the most sophisticated sentence type. It combines features of both compound and complex sentences.
Combine these THREE ideas into ONE compound-complex sentence.
1. The weather was bad.
2. We went to the beach.
3. We had a great time.
Although the weather was bad, we went to the beach, and we had a great time.
Even though the weather was bad, we went to the beach, and we had a great time.
1. She got the job.
2. She was nervous during the interview.
3. She starts next Monday.
She got the job even though she was nervous during the interview, and she starts next Monday.
Although she was nervous during the interview, she got the job, so she starts next Monday.
1. The restaurant was expensive.
2. The food was delicious.
3. We couldn't afford dessert.
The food was delicious, but we couldn't afford dessert because the restaurant was expensive.
Although the food was delicious, we couldn't afford dessert because the restaurant was expensive.
1. I arrived at the station.
2. The train had already left.
3. I had to wait an hour for the next one.
When I arrived at the station, the train had already left, so I had to wait an hour for the next one.
1. The internet connection failed.
2. I was in the middle of an important meeting.
3. I had to use my phone instead.
The internet connection failed while I was in the middle of an important meeting, so I had to use my phone instead.
When the internet connection failed, I was in the middle of an important meeting, and I had to use my phone instead.
1. The exam was difficult.
2. Most students passed.
3. They studied together.
Although the exam was difficult, most students passed because they studied together.
The exam was difficult, but most students passed because they studied together.
Real IELTS skill isn't just knowing sentence types - it's knowing when and how to use variety. Let's practice transforming sentences.
Transform these simple sentences into complex sentences by adding a dependent clause.
Simple: I missed the bus.
I missed the bus because I woke up late.
Although I ran to the stop, I missed the bus.
I missed the bus even though I left on time.
Simple: She got promoted.
She got promoted because she worked harder than everyone else.
After she completed the project, she got promoted.
Since she joined the company, she has been promoted twice.
Simple: The city invested in public transport.
The city invested in public transport because traffic had become unbearable.
When the new government took power, the city invested in public transport.
Simple 1: The concert was sold out.
Simple 2: We watched it online.
The concert was sold out, so we watched it online.
Simple 1: The project was behind schedule.
Simple 2: The team worked weekends.
The project was behind schedule, so the team worked weekends.
The project was behind schedule, and the team worked weekends.
This paragraph uses only simple sentences. Rewrite it with better variety.
Original (all simple):
Many people use social media daily. They check their phones constantly. This affects their productivity. Some companies ban phones at work. Employees become more focused. The policy is controversial.
Because many people use social media daily and check their phones constantly, their productivity is often affected. Although the policy is controversial, some companies have banned phones at work, and they report that employees become more focused as a result.
(2 sentences instead of 6, using complex and compound-complex structures)
Original (all simple):
Cities are growing rapidly. Housing prices are increasing. Young people cannot afford homes. Governments are building more apartments. The problem continues. New solutions are needed.
As cities grow rapidly, housing prices are increasing, and young people can no longer afford homes. Although governments are building more apartments, the problem continues, so new solutions are urgently needed.
Take these two simple sentences and write them THREE different ways.
Sentence A: The exam was difficult.
Sentence B: I passed.
Compound: The exam was difficult, but I passed.
Complex: Although the exam was difficult, I passed.
Compound-complex: Although the exam was difficult, I passed, and I'm proud of my result.
Test your speed and accuracy. Can you construct sentences under pressure?
Identify the sentence type as fast as you can. Write S (simple), CP (compound), CX (complex), or CC (compound-complex).
1. The cat sleeps on the sofa.
2. I wanted coffee, but the cafe was closed.
3. Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
4. When the alarm rang, everyone ran outside, and the building was evacuated.
5. She studies medicine.
6. Although he trained hard, he lost the race.
7. The movie was boring, so we left.
8. I'll wait until you arrive.
9. The project failed because the budget was cut, and the team was disappointed.
10. Coffee keeps me awake.
1. S (simple) | 2. CP (compound) | 3. CX (complex) | 4. CC (compound-complex) | 5. S (simple) | 6. CX (complex) | 7. CP (compound) | 8. CX (complex) | 9. CC (compound-complex) | 10. S (simple)
Build ONE sentence of each type on the topic: LEARNING A LANGUAGE
Simple: Learning a new language takes time.
Compound: Learning a new language takes time, but the rewards are worth it.
Complex: Although learning a new language takes time, the rewards are worth it.
Compound-complex: Although learning a new language takes time, many people study daily, and they eventually achieve fluency.
Write a 4-5 sentence paragraph using AT LEAST one of each sentence type. Topic:
[Complex] Because urban populations are growing rapidly, governments must prioritize public transport investment. [Simple] Efficient bus and train systems reduce traffic congestion. [Compound] Private car use decreases air pollution, and cities become more liveable. [Compound-complex] Although initial costs are high, long-term benefits include economic growth, so the investment is worthwhile. [Complex] When public transport is reliable, more people choose it over driving.
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Contains: 1 independent clause
"The cat sleeps."
"Coffee keeps me awake."
Contains: 2+ independent clauses
Conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
"I was tired, but I kept working."
Contains: 1 independent + 1+ dependent clause
Starts with: because, although, when, if, while, after, before, until, since...
"Although it rained, we went out."
Contains: 2+ independent clauses + 1+ dependent clause
"When it rained, we stayed inside, and we watched a movie."