Simple Sentence, Complex Sentence, Compound Sentence

Types of Sentences

There are four different types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.

Simple Sentences

simple sentence has one main clause. That means it has one subject and one verb. In addition, a simple sentence can have adjectives and adverbs. Note that a simple sentence can’t have another main clause or any subordinate clauses.

Example are given below.

  • Man is mortal.
  • Alice is a beautiful girl.
  • I have two kids.

Compound Sentences

compound sentence consists of two or more main clauses. The clauses can be joined with a coordinating conjunction (e.g. for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon (;). As with a simple sentence, a compound sentence can’t have any subordinate clauses.

  • Mike smokes but Peter doesn’t.
  • Alice wrote the letters and Peter posted them.

Complex Sentences

complex sentence contains one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. These sentences use subordinating conjunctions to link ideas.

  • Parallel lines never meet (main) until (subordinating conjunction) you bend one of them (subordinate clause).
  • Alice said (main clause) that she would come (subordinate clause).
  • You may stay (main clause) as long as you want (subordinate clause).
  • Will you wait (main clause) till I return (subordinate clause)?
  • If you eat too much (subordinate clause) you will fall ill (main clause).

Compound-Complex Sentences

compound-complex sentence has at least two main clauses and at least one subordinating clause. The dependent clause can be part of the independent clause.

  • After she left university (subordinate), Alice moved to London (main) and her boyfriend followed her (main).

Manjusha

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets. You may also want to check out my other blogs IELTS Practice and NCERT Guides

2 Responses

  1. Sakaria says:

    This is very nice. The explanations are very clear for learners to study on their own, especially in this time of COVID19.

  2. Angelic Princess says:

    This platform really help me to practice for my grammar exam …. A big thank you to you❣️❣️❣️

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