Simple, Compound, Complex Sentences

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What is a simple sentence?

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A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Example: 'Skylar likes to play second base.'

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What is a compound sentence?

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A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction. Example: 'The girls will go to the gym, but the boys will stay in the cafeteria for the meetings.'

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What is a complex sentence?

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A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Example: 'If they place first, they might win five hundred dollars.'

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Identify the structure: 'After I went to the Angelina County Fair, I began raising my own goat.'

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This is a complex sentence because it has an independent clause and a dependent clause.

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What is an independent clause?

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An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb. Example: 'I went to the store.'

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What is a dependent clause?

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A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and usually begins with a subordinating conjunction. Example: 'Because I was tired.'

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What conjunctions are commonly used in compound sentences?

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Common conjunctions include 'and', 'but', and 'or'.

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What punctuation is used to separate independent clauses in a compound sentence?

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A comma is used before the conjunction to separate independent clauses. Example: 'I wanted to go, but I was too tired.'

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Identify the structure: 'The second place prize is three hundred dollars, and the third place prize is one hundred dollars.'

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This is a compound sentence because it contains two independent clauses joined by 'and'.

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What is the purpose of a complex sentence?

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Complex sentences are used to show relationships between ideas, such as cause and effect or contrast.