Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences in Your Writing

Simple and Compound
Sentences – Enhancing Your
Writing

A common weakness in
writing is the lack of varied
sentences. Becoming aware of
three general types of sentences -
simple, compound, and complex
- can help you vary the sentences
in your writing. Today, we will
deal with simple and compound
sentences.

Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains a subject and
verb.
It expresses a single complete thought.
A simple sentence is a single independent
clause.

Example Simple Sentences
Joe waited for the train.
"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
Mary and Samantha took the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject,
"took" = verb
I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus
station.
"I" = subject, "looked" = verb

Compound Sentences
refers to a sentence made up of two or more
simple sentences
they have more than 1 subject, and more
then 1 predicate
sentences are joined together by either a
comma, semicolon, or a coordinating
conjunction

Coordinating Conjunctions
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

Example Compound Sentences
Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus
station, but they arrived at the station before
noon and left on the bus before I arrived.
Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station
before noon, and they left on the bus before I
arrived.
Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I
arrived, so I did not see them at the bus
station.

Complex Sentences
when you join a dependent clause to an
independent clause, you form a complex
sentence
relative pronouns and subordinating
conjunctions are used to connect the
independent clause to the dependent clause

Subordinating Conjunctions
After how Until
Although if Unless
As in as much as if
in order that When as long as
At least Whenever as much as
now that whereas soon
wherever as though Since
While because so that
Before even if That
even though though

Sample Complex Sentences
The cat fell asleep on the warm kitchen
because he was deprived of sleep the night
before.
When the mouse heard the soft snoring of
his sleeping nemesis, he scurried to the
pantry and grabbed enough food for a week.
The dedicated, feline sleuth keeps his
nightly vigil even though the foresighted
mouse will not be venturing out this week.