The simple sentence patterns shown in R1-c can be combined and transformed to produce all of the sentences writers of English need.

Two or more clauses may be combined with a coordinating conjunction (such as and or but) or a pair of correlative conjunctions (such as either . . . or) to create a compound sentence:

Writers create complex sentences by combining independent clauses with a subordinating conjunction (such as although or because) or by linking two clauses with a relative pronoun (such as which or who):

Clauses that contain subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns are dependent clauses and cannot stand on their own as simple sentences.

Clauses can also be combined to produce compound-complex sentences, compound sentences that contain dependent clauses:

(Conjunctions and dependent clauses are discussed in more detail in R2.) Simple sentences can take the form of declarations, questions, commands, and exclamations:

(In addition, sentences that are in the active voice can generally be transformed into the passive voice if they have transitive verbs and objects.)