Simple, Compound, Complex and Compound-Complex Sentences With Examples

Simple Sentence in English

A simple sentence is a type of sentence that consists of one independent clause(MUST Know about different types of clauses here). 

Simple sentences have a subject and a predicate, and can themselves make complete sense without the help of any other clause or sentence. 

Components of a Simple Sentence

1. Contains an independent clause.

2. Contains a subject and a predicate.

3. Can make complete sense by its own.

Simple Sentence Examples: 

a. He prefers coffee to tea. 

b. I will attend the meeting at 12 o'clock. 

c. A sessional exam will be conducted today. 

Explanation: All the aforementioned examples are simple sentences, because they contain an independent clause, a subject and a predicate, and make complete sense by their own. 

Compound Sentence with Examples in English

A compound sentence is a type of sentence that consists of two or more independent clauses. 

Compound sentences are connected with co-ordinating conjunctions.(Know more about Co-ordinating conjunctions) or sometimes, with semi-colon (Know more about semi-colon.) 

Like simple sentences, each of the clauses used in compound sentences can make complete sense without the help of any other clause or sentence. 

Components of a Compound Sentence

1. Contains two or more independent clauses 

2. Contains two or more subjects and predicates 

3. Are joined with co-ordinating conjunctions, “FANBOYS”. 

Compound sentence examples: 

a. I like coffee, but she likes tea. 

b. He saw a lion on the road and he ran away quickly. 

c. John didn't complete his assignment, so the teacher beat him severely, and consequently he was hospitalized. 

Explanation: The first example sentence, “I like coffee, but she likes tea.” contains two independent clauses connected with the help of the co-ordinating conjunction, “but” and contains two subjects and predicates. 

Similarly, the second example sentence, “He saw a lion on the road, and he ran away quickly.” also contains two independent clauses connected with the help of the co-ordinating conjunction, “and” and contains two subjects and predicates. 

The third sentence, “John didn't complete his assignment, so the teacher beat him severely, and consequently he was hospitalized.” consists of three independent clauses and three subjects and three predicates. 

Complex sentence with Examples in English

A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

Complex sentences are connected with sub-ordinating conjunctions. 

Components of a Complex Sentence

1. Has one independent clause 

2. Has one or more dependent clauses 

3. Has two or more subjects and predicates 

Complex sentence examples: 

a. John could not attend the class yesterday, because he was ill. 

b. You can call me when you are free. 

c. Although you are wealthy, you can be unhappy if you are alone. 

Explanation: The first example, He couldn't attend the class yesterday, because he was ill.” has one independent (he couldn't attend the class yesterday) and one dependent clause (because he was ill) connected by the conjunction, “because”. It has two subjects and two predicates. 

The second example, “ You can call me when you are free” also has one independent clause ( You can call me) and one dependent clause (when you are free) connected by the conjunction, “when”. It also has two subjects and two predicates. 

The third example, “Although you are wealthy, you can be unhappy if you are alone.” has one independent clause (you can be unhappy) and two dependent clauses (although you are wealthy & if you are alone). It has three subjects and three predicates. 

Compound-complex sentence with Examples in English

A compound complex sentence has atleast two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. 

Compound complex sentences are connected with both co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions. 

Components of a compound complex sentence

1. Has atleast two independent clauses 

2. Has one or more dependent clauses 

3. Has three or more subjects and predicates

4. Connected by both co-ordinating and sub-ordinating conjunctions

Compound complex sentence examples: 

a. Rahul reads novels, but Rocky reads short stories, because the latter finds novels difficult. 

b. John, who is 15, reads books on literature, but Raman, who is also 15, reads books on politics.

Explanation: The first example, “Rahul reads novels, but Rocky reads short stories, because the latter finds novels difficult.” contains two independent clauses (1. Rahul reads novels. 2. Rocky reads short stories.) and one dependent clause (Because the latter finds novels difficult) and it has three subjects and predicates. 

The second example, “John, who is 15, reads books on literature, and Raman, who is also 15, reads books on politics.” consists of two independent clauses (1. John reads books on literature. 2. Raman reads books on politics.) and two dependent clauses (1. Who is 15. 2. Who is also 15.) and it has four subjects and predicates connected with both co-ordinating and sub-ordinating conjunctions, “Who” & “and”.

Summary of the Lesson

Question: What is a simple sentence in English 

Answer: A simple sentence is a type of sentence that consists of only one independent clause. Simple sentences have a subject and a predicate. Simple sentences can make complete sense without the help of any other clause or sentence. 

Question: What is a compound sentence

Answer: A compound sentence is a type of sentence that consists of two or more independent clauses. Compound sentences are connected with co-ordinating conjunctions or semi-colon. Each of the clause of the compound sentence can make complete sense like simple sentences. 

Question: What is a complex sentence

Answer: A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. Complex sentences are connected with sub-ordinating conjunctions. 

Question: What is a compound complex sentence

Answer: A compound complex sentence has atleast two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Compound complex sentences are connected with both co-ordinating and sub-ordinating conjunctions