SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX, AND
COMPOUND-COMPLEX
Simple
Sentences
- A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb.
- It expresses a single complete thought that can
stand on its own.
Examples:
1. The baby cried for food.
^There is a
subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought.
2. Professor Maple’s intelligent students completed
and turned in their homework.
^ A simple sentence does not necessarily have to be
short. It can have adjectives. In this case, there are two verbs “completed”
and “turned in.” However, the sentence expresses one complete thought and
therefore is a simple sentence.
3. Megan and Ron ate too much and felt sick.
^Although
there are two subjects and two verbs, it is still a simple sentence because
both verbs share the same subjects and express one complete thought.
Compound
Sentences
- A compound sentence has two independent clauses.
An independent clause is a part of a sentence that can stand alone because it
contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
- Basically, a compound contains two simple
sentences.
- These independent clauses are joined by a
conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Examples:
1. The shoplifter had stolen clothes, so he ran once
he saw the police.
^Both sides of the conjunction “so” are complete
sentences. “The shoplifter had stolen clothes” can stand alone and so can “he
ran once he saw the police.” Therefore, this is a compound sentence.
2. They spoke to him in Spanish, but he responded in
English.
^This is also a compound sentence that uses a
conjunction to separate two individual clauses.
Complex
Sentences
- A complex sentence is an independent clause joined
by one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause either lacks a subject or
a verb or has both a subject and a verb that does not express a complete
thought.
- A complex sentence always has a subordinator (as,
because, since, after, although, when) or relative pronouns (who, that, which).
Examples:
1. After eating lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, Tim
went to the gym to exercise.
^ The independent clause is ‘Tim went to the gym to
exercise.” The subordinating clause before
it is dependent on the main, independent clause. If
one were to say “after eating lunch at The
Cheesecake Factory,” it would be an incomplete
thought.
2. Opinionated women are given disadvantages in
societies that privilege male accomplishments.
^ The subject is “opinionated women” and the verb is
“are given.” The first part of the sentence “opinionated women are given
disadvantages in societies” is an independent clause that expresses a complete
thought. The following “that privilege male accomplishments” is a relative clause
that describes which types of societies.
3. The woman who taught Art History 210 was fired
for stealing school supplies.
^ The dependent clause in this sentence is “who
taught Art History 210” because if removed, the rest of the sentence would
stand as an independent clause. “Who taught Art History 210” is an adjective
clause that provides necessary details about the subject, woman.
Compound-Complex
Sentences
- A compound-complex sentence has two independent
clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Examples:
1. After the two soccer players lost their game,
they joined their other teammates for lunch, and they went to the movies.
^ If we remove the dependent clause “after the two
soccer players lost their game,” we have a compound sentence. The dependent
clause makes this sentence compound-complex.
2. The man believed in the system, and he knew that
justice would prevail after the murderer was sent to jail.
Practice:
Identify whether the sentences are simple, complex,
compound or compound-complex. Please underline dependent clauses where it
applies.
1. Vampires Dairies is my favorite television show,
but I also love True Blood.
2. The student wiped the white board that was filthy
with last week’s notes.
3. The trendy fashion designer released her new line
on Wednesday.
4. Trina and Hareem went to a bar in Hollywood to
celebrate their anniversary.
5. Wicked Regina cast a spell on the entire city, so
the citizens decided to rebel.
6. While waiting for the paint to dry, Angela went
to Home Depot, and Martin organized the kitchen appliances.
7. After listening to the Kanye West CD, I have new
respect for his music.
8. After the teacher chose groups, John and Sara
were selected as partners for a project, yet
Sarah did most of the work.
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