Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

A weakness in many written compositions is a need for varied sentences. Understanding how to engage a reader using simple, compound and complex sentences will improve most writing.

 

SIMPLE SENTENCES

A simple sentence includes  a subject, a verb, and a completed thought.

Examples of simple sentences include the following:

1. Joe waited for the train.
   "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
    

2. The train was late.
   "The train" = subject, "was" = verb
    

3. Mary and Samantha took the bus.
   "Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
    

4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.
   "I" = subject, "looked" = verb
    

5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
   "Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" = compound verb  

 

COMPOUND SENTENCE

A compound sentence includes two independent clauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of the words "FAN BOYS":

• For

• And

• Nor

• But

• Or

• Yet

• So

Examples of compound sentences include the following:

1. Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
    

2. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.
    

3. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the bus before I arrived.
    

4. Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus station. 3. Complex Sentences

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COMPLEX SENTENCES

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses connected to it.

A dependent clause is one that cannot stand alone because it is missing a subject or a predicate.  

Examples of dependent clauses include the following:

• because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon

• while he waited at the train station

• after they left on the bus

Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most common subordinating conjunctions:

• after

• although

• as

• because

• before

• even though

• if

• since

• though

• unless

• until

• when

• whenever

• whereas

• wherever

• while

 

Source:  English 1001 http://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/eng1001/sentences.htm1