Simple Sentences

​Simple Sentences

By Joshua Sampson

(Noun + Verb)
He ran.
The store opened.
The cat yawned.
He worked all day.

Examples

A simple sentence is two things: a subject (noun) and a predicate (verb + the rest). It is something doing something. It is the most basic building block of English.

Definition

Simple Sentence Definition

The store (noun) closed (verb).
The creature (noun) emerged (verb) from the den (the rest).

Subject (noun) + Predicate (verb + the rest)

Understanding Subject + Predicate

Simple Sentence Continued

Simple sentences are also known as independent clauses.

An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone. When reading it, you can tell that it makes perfect sense. You don't need additional information to make it work.

Independent Clause = Simple Sentence.

More Simple Sentences

Simple sentences use nouns and verbs, but also use prepositions, adjectives, adverbs, and all the other parts of speech.

The slow dog ran to the blue house.
=
(Article + Adverb + Noun + Verb + Preposition + Article + Adjective + Noun)

Identifying a Simple Sentence

When identifying elements of simple sentence, look for the noun and the verb.

The kid (noun) played (verb) with the football (the rest).

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the following sentence simple sentence: The door slammed shut!

• Slammed

• Door

• The

• Shut

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the following sentence: The dog chased the mailman every single day.

• Dog

• The

• Mailman

• Day

Multiple Choice

What is the subject for the following sentence: She wept when the car drove away.

• Car

• Drove

• She

• Away

Multiple Choice

What is the predicate for the following sentence: He could not believe what he had seen.

• He

• Believe

• Could not believe what he had seen.

• He could not believe

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a simple sentence?

• There was a dog, and there was a cat.

• Although he had already eaten, he was still hungry.

• The door was open, and there was a hanging thread even though there was no home.

• The night air was cold.

Multiple Choice

True or False: A simple sentence is also know as an independent clause.

• True

• False

Open Ended

Create three of your own simple sentences.