Simple Sentences, Compound Sentences, and Complex Sentences
A
simple sentence has one
subject and one
predicate. The subject and/or predicate may even be a compound subject and/or a compound predicate.
- Pepper likes Jack.
- Pepper wrote a note and gave it to Frannie.
- Pepper and Frannie share a secret.
A
compound sentence is a sentence containing two or more independent clauses that are usually joined by a
comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Coordinating conjunctions are:
and,
but,
for,
nor,
or,
so, and
yet.
Independent clauses are sentences because they express a complete thought and can stand alone.
- Pepper likes Jack, but she is currently dating Skip.
Independent clause one, (Pepper likes Jack) is followed by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (,but) and independent clause two (she is currently dating Skip).
A
complex sentence contains one
independent clause and at least one
subordinate clause.
A
subordinate clause is often called the
dependent clause and can not stand alone. Think of it as the opposite of the independent clause.
Subordinating clauses can appear at the beginning, the middle, or the end of a complex sentence.
- When Pepper sees Frannie talking to Skip, she gets jealous.
In the complex sentence, the independent clause (she gets jealous) follows the subordinate clause (When Pepper sees Frannie talking to Skip).
Subordinating clauses do not express a complete thought. They often create a condition or environment for the independent thought to flourish. Call them the supporting staff. Consider this again...
- When Pepper sees Frannie talking to Skip, she gets jealous.
If the
independent clause above was standing alone, we would not know the condition or environment of her jealousy. We wouldn't even know who she was. The
subordinating clause gives us the information that we needed. It created the condition or environment.
