Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences

Front

What is a simple sentence?

Back

A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

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Example of a simple sentence.

Back

The dog barks.

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What is a compound sentence?

Back

A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Front

Example of a compound sentence.

Back

I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.

Front

What is a complex sentence?

Back

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Front

Example of a complex sentence.

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Although it was raining, we went for a walk.

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What is a compound-complex sentence?

Back

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Front

Example of a compound-complex sentence.

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Although it was raining, we went for a walk, and we took our umbrellas.

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What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence; it has a subject and a verb.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

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A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence; it has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.