Classifying sentences is easiest if you mark the parts and then see what you have. Underline independent clauses once. Underline dependent clauses twice.
We might go to New Orleans on our Christmas vacation or to New York next spring. (1 independent = simple)
Our families have been friends forever, but we haven't seen each other in years. (2 independent = compound)
When we get to your aunt's house, you must remember to thank her for the presentsthat she sent you. (1 independent + 2 dependent = complex)
Before we go to the movie, which you have been waiting weeks to see, we need to find a babysitter for your little sister, who is too young to see it. (1 independent + 3 dependent = complex)
The Egyptianswho built the pyramidswere amazing architects, but the Romanswho built many years laterwere even betterbecause they were able to build arches, which the Egyptians hadn't figured out. (2 independent + 4 dependent = compound-complex)
Practice What You've Learned
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Use the toolbar to identify the independent clauses and the dependent clauses. Then decide if the sentence is simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.