What is a Simple Sentence?

A simple sentence contains a single independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words with a single complete subject and a single complete predicate.

• Example: Jason swims.

In the above example, Jason is the subject and swims is the predicate.

A simple sentence can contain a compound subject or compound predicate. A compound subject contains more than one noun as its subject. A compound predicate contains more than one verb as its predicate. These are still considered a single complete subject and a single complete predicate.

• Example: Jason and Miranda swim. (Compound subject)
• Example: Jason swims and laughs. (Compound predicate)

A simple sentence can also contain any of the parts of speech, such as adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, or interjections.

• Example: The young boy can swim. (Adjective)
• Example: The young boy can swim quickly. (Adverb)
• Example: The young boy can swim quickly across the stream. (Prepositional phrase)
• Example: Wow, the young boy can swim quickly across the stream. (Interjection)
• Example: Wow, she and the young boy can swim quickly across the stream. (Compound subject)
• Example: Wow, she and the young boy can swim quickly across the stream and come back in under three minutes. (Compound predicate)

Even though the above examples seem to grow increasingly complicated, they are all still considered simple sentences. This is because these sentences consist solely of a single independent clause.

What is a Compound Sentence?

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses—groups of words that can function as complete sentences. The independent clauses in a compound sentence must be separated by a semicolon or by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Semicolon

A semicolon can be used to create a compound sentence. A compound sentence is considered a single sentence. Do not capitalize the word that follows a semicolon unless that word is a proper noun.

• Two sentences: Lauren went to the mall. Her brother Jamie stayed home.
• Compound sentence: Lauren went to the mall; her brother Jamie stayed home.
• Compound sentence: Lauren went to the mall; Jamie, her brother, stayed home.

Semicolons are used when two independent clauses have a close relation to one another. Avoid using semicolons with independent clauses that are long or complicated. Also avoid using multiple semicolons in a single paragraph.

Commas and coordinating conjunctions

A compound sentence can also be created by connecting two independent clauses using a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

• Example: I went surfing. My sister went snorkeling.
• Example: I went surfing, but my sister went snorkeling.

Coordinating conjunctions

The coordinating conjunctions can be remembered by the acronym FANBOYS:

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So

The coordinating conjunction used in a compound sentence defines the relationship between the two clauses.

• Example: I did my best. My teacher gave me a B+.
• Example: I did my best, and my teacher gave me a B+.
• Example: I did my best, but my teacher gave me a B+.
• Example: I did my best, so my teacher gave me a B+.

Notice how in the above examples, the coordinating conjunction changes the meaning of the sentence.

What are Complex Sentences?

A complex sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause. Independent clauses can function as a complete sentence, while dependent clauses cannot. A dependent clause in a complex sentence must contain a subordinating conjunction. There are two ways to structure a complex sentence: beginning with the independent clause and beginning with the dependent clause.

Beginning a sentence with an independent clause

A complex sentence that begins with its independent clause requires a subordinating conjunction but not a comma.

• Complex sentence: Nick watched cartoons after he did his homework.
• Independent clause: Nick watched cartoons
• Dependent clause: after he did his homework

In the above example, the dependent clause contains the subordinating conjunction after.

Beginning a sentence with a dependent clause

A complex sentence that begins with its dependent clause requires both a subordinating conjunction and a comma. The subordinating conjunction will appear at the beginning of the dependent clause, and the comma will separate the two clauses.

• Complex sentence: After he did his homework, Nick watched cartoons.
• Dependent clause: After he did his homework
• Independent clause: Nick watched cartoons

In the above example, the comma separates the dependent clause After he did his homework from the independent clause Nick watched cartoons.

Subordinating conjunctions

There are many subordinating conjunctions. Here is a list of some common ones:

• Although
• After
• Because
• Before
• Even though
• Even if
• In case
• Since
• Unless
• While

The subordinating conjunction determines what the relationship is between the independent clause and the dependent clause.

• Example: Nick watched cartoons after he did his homework.
• Example: Nick watched cartoons before he did his homework.

Notice how in the examples above, the subordinating conjunction changes the meaning of the sentence.

What are Compound-complex Sentences?

A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clause. This sentence type combines the qualities of a compound sentence with the qualities of a complex sentence. The clauses in a compound-complex sentence do not need to appear in a specific order.

Because this sentence type is compound, it requires either a semicolon or a comma with a coordinating conjunction.

• Example: Claire loves donuts; because it is her birthday, she ate half a dozen.

• Example: Claire loves donuts, and because it is her birthday, she ate half a dozen.

Because this sentence type is complex, it requires a subordinating conjunction and possibly a comma.

• Example: Claire loves donuts; she ate half a dozen because it is her birthday.
• Example: Claire loves donuts; because it is her birthday, she ate half a dozen.