Two subjects (Alicia, she) and two predicates (took, didn't want) equals two clauses. The first is an independent clause, and the second is a dependent clause ("for" is a subordinating conjunction). So that would be a complex sentence.
Alicia took an earlier bus than she needed [to]. (Makes sense standing alone.)
She didn't want to be late. (Makes sense standing alone.)
'For' is a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Coordinating conjunctions connect two independent clauses.
This is how we used to teach students (ahem, how I was taught) to recognize independent clauses - by memorizing the FANBOYS. Anything else after a comma and we were probably looking at a dependent clause.
Sorry, I should have said anything else and we should be *wary* of a dependent clause coming up. I'm reliving pieces of a middle school grammar lesson where this all started to make sense at last - I'm probably misstating what I've now managed to internalize!
@ anonymous, who said: un-english. *nobody* says "for" in this context; try "because".
Nonsense. People will make claims about what is and isn't (good) English without even trying to look it up. You know, there are people -- they're called linguists who study this stuff.
11 comments:
Complex, or compound.
Definitely NOT simple.
There is a dependent clause (Alicia took an earlier bus than she needed to) and an independent clause (she didn’t want to be late).
(I just had to reevaluate which is the dependent and which is the independent.)
I suppose I should be thanking my 7th grade English teacher about now.
Compound sentence with two independent clauses.
See explanation at http://www.eslbee.com/sentences.htm
Two subjects (Alicia, she) and two predicates (took, didn't want) equals two clauses. The first is an independent clause, and the second is a dependent clause ("for" is a subordinating conjunction). So that would be a complex sentence.
Three comments, three different answers!
I think CW may be right.
I was thinking compound, too, but I have forgotten most of it all by now.
Of course, you could have googled it before the first response came, but what fun would that be?
SusanS
My vote is it's complex.
Here's my take:
Alicia took an earlier bus than she needed [to]. (Makes sense standing alone.)
She didn't want to be late. (Makes sense standing alone.)
'For' is a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Coordinating conjunctions connect two independent clauses.
This is how we used to teach students (ahem, how I was taught) to recognize independent clauses - by memorizing the FANBOYS. Anything else after a comma and we were probably looking at a dependent clause.
Sorry, I should have said anything else and we should be *wary* of a dependent clause coming up. I'm reliving pieces of a middle school grammar lesson where this all started to make sense at last - I'm probably misstating what I've now managed to internalize!
un-english.
*nobody* says "for"
in this context;
try "because".
@ anonymous, who said:
un-english.
*nobody* says "for"
in this context;
try "because".
Nonsense. People will make claims about what is and isn't (good) English without even trying to look it up. You know, there are people -- they're called linguists who study this stuff.
Ever sung, "For he's a jolly good fellow . . .?"
Sorry -- please insert second dash following "inguists."
Will let you know tomorrow. Have broken out the Gruber Grammar book to read from beginning to end.
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