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There is not really a set number of words that you need to make a sentence. In order to have a sentence, you must have a subject and verb. It must contain a complete thought (it has to make some sense). Because there is no set number of words, sentences vary greatly in length. Some are long: The tired cat slept on the couch while his owner sat on the chair. Some are even longer: I want to go to the shopping mall, but my family would rather go to the movie theater to see that new movie. Some are short: His name is Steve. Some are even shorter: Come. (Even though this is only one word, it still counts as a sentence because it has all the things nessecary to be one. It has a verb-come. The subject is understood to be "you." It also makes sense, so that means it qualifies as a complete sentene).

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15y ago
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13y ago

Yes.

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But besides an answer, which does not communicate a complete thought, or an interjection (Goodbye, Hey, Nuts), the actual single-word sentences are the imperatives, a direct address where the subject is usually understood to be you.

Examples :

"Stop!" (meaning "you should stop" or "you must stop")

"Help!" (which could be an interjection, but also "you should help me")

"Fight." (meaning "you should begin to fight", as I am telling you to fight)

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11y ago

There only needs to be one (i.e. the main sentence itself). In fact, there can only be one, if my understanding is correct. There can be umpteen subordinate clauses, which aid the understanding of the main sentence, but these are not independent in their own right. However, these subordinate clauses are dependant on the main clause to make sense.

When one independent clause ends, another begins in another sentence, so there is only one, if we are to make sense, that is. Having more than one might sound like:

'Do you want to play a game of Scrabble, I think koalas are cute.'

Utter nonsense.

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10y ago

Sentences can be many lengths. There are sentences as short as just a couple of words, and others that last entire paragraphs. The average sentence length, according to Martin Cutt's Oxford Guide to Plain English, is 15-20 words.

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11y ago

the average number of words in most of my sentences is 7.

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6y ago

It depends on the context. Something as simple as 'He killed the cat.' - is a complete sentence.

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Q: How many independent clauses must there be in a sentence?
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How many dependent clauses does a compound sentence have?

In order to be "compound," a sentence must have more than one independent clause. So a sentence with 2 or more independent clauses is a compound sentence.


What are run-ons?

In respect to standard written English, run-on sentences are defined as compound sentences lacking proper punctuation. A compound sentence may consist of two or more independent clauses; however, these independent clauses must be connected with the punctuation marks appropriate for the construction in question. While each writer of a compound sentence may choose the punctuation marks deemed most appropriate, the absence of punctuation marks will in all cases render the sentence as a "run-on".


How many independent clauses does Charlie must learn that eating all those sweets may give him a temporary pleasure but that it's not good for his heart and that he would feel better about himself if?

In the above statement the correct number of independent clauses is three words.


When combining two independent clauses a comma must be placed .?

When you combine two independent clauses, you need to separate them with a semicolon--not a comma. If you use a comma instead of a semicolon, the result is called a comma splice.


A compound sentence consists of?

A compound complex sentence must contain at least two independent clauses, linked by a conjunction (or punctuation that functions as a conjunction), and at least one dependent clause. For example: 'I waited an hour and a half for my sister; she finally turned up at ten o'clock, when I had given her up for lost.' First independent clause: 'I waited an hour and a half for my sister;' Second independent clause: 'she finally turned up at ten o'clock,' Dependent clause: 'when I had given her up for lost.' This could also be written as 'I waited an hour and a half for my sister, and she finally turned up at ten o'clock, when I had given her up for lost.'

Related questions

How many dependent clauses does a compound sentence have?

In order to be "compound," a sentence must have more than one independent clause. So a sentence with 2 or more independent clauses is a compound sentence.


What must a compound sentence contain?

Two or more independent clauses


What are run-ons?

In respect to standard written English, run-on sentences are defined as compound sentences lacking proper punctuation. A compound sentence may consist of two or more independent clauses; however, these independent clauses must be connected with the punctuation marks appropriate for the construction in question. While each writer of a compound sentence may choose the punctuation marks deemed most appropriate, the absence of punctuation marks will in all cases render the sentence as a "run-on".


Is a sentence with an adverb or adjective clause a compound sentence?

A sentence with an adverb or adjective clause is a complex sentence, because an adjective clause is a subordinate clause. A complex sentence must contain one independent clause plus one or more subordinate clauses.


A sentence with an adverb or adjective clause is a compound sentence?

A sentence with an adverb or adjective clause is a complex sentence, because an adjective clause is a subordinate clause. A complex sentence must contain one independent clause plus one or more subordinate clauses.


How many independent clauses does Charlie must learn that eating all those sweets may give him a temporary pleasure but that it's not good for his heart and that he would feel better about himself if?

In the above statement the correct number of independent clauses is three words.


When combining two independent clauses a comma must be placed .?

When you combine two independent clauses, you need to separate them with a semicolon--not a comma. If you use a comma instead of a semicolon, the result is called a comma splice.


What is an independent clause sentence?

A sentence has a subject and a verb. It is a complete thought and can stand on it's own. A clause is not a complete thought. It is missing a subject or verb. It cannot stand on it's own.


What is run-on?

In respect to standard written English, run-on sentences are defined as compound sentences lacking proper punctuation. A compound sentence may consist of two or more independent clauses; however, these independent clauses must be connected with the punctuation marks appropriate for the construction in question. While each writer of a compound sentence may choose the punctuation marks deemed most appropriate, the absence of punctuation marks will in all cases render the sentence as a "run-on".


A compound sentence consists of?

A compound complex sentence must contain at least two independent clauses, linked by a conjunction (or punctuation that functions as a conjunction), and at least one dependent clause. For example: 'I waited an hour and a half for my sister; she finally turned up at ten o'clock, when I had given her up for lost.' First independent clause: 'I waited an hour and a half for my sister;' Second independent clause: 'she finally turned up at ten o'clock,' Dependent clause: 'when I had given her up for lost.' This could also be written as 'I waited an hour and a half for my sister, and she finally turned up at ten o'clock, when I had given her up for lost.'


How many dependent clauses must there be in a sentence?

It depends on the type of the sentence. there three types of sentences: 1. simple sentence consists of a subject, verb and sometimes a complement. you can have more than one subject and verb for example: - I visit my grand parents every Sunday. - I and my brother visit my grand parents every Sunday. - I and my friend live in the same room and go to the same school. these thee sentences are simple sentences and consist of one clause. if you are writing a compound sentence, then you have two clauses, and you have to use one of the coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so. in this case you two clauses in one sentence. for example: I don't like watching tv, but my brother likes watching tv. I don't have enough money to buy this pants, so I will borrow some money from a friend. in this case you have two independent clauses connected by one of these coordinating conjunctions. the third type is complex sentences in which you have a dependent clause and an independent clause connected by a subordinating conjunction like because, therefore, wherever, whenever, whereas, etc. in conclusion, there must be at least one independent clause in a sentence to have a complete and meaningful sentence.


What is the prepositional phrase in the sentence They must stop eating your food from the refrigerator or must pay you?

In the sentence ... They must stop eating your food from the refrigerator or pay you?...from the refrigerator is the prepositional clause. 1) It is followed by the preposition FROM 2) The sentence would still make sense without the prepositional phrase... They must stop eating your food or pay you?