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).

2 thoughts on “Simple Sentence, Complex Sentence, Compound Sentence”

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

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