Simple, Compound, and
Complex Sentences
May, 7 2012
Read and Observe

It was my birthday. I asked for a bike. My
parents bought me a red bike. It had
white stripes on the fenders. I like to ride
my bike everywhere. I like to ride on
smooth pavement best. I am not allowed
to ride on the sidewalk. People walk on
the sidewalk. I ride on the bike trail in the
park.
I. Simple Sentences
All of the sentences in the paragraph
above are simple sentences No, that’s
not an insult; it is the grammatical term
for them .
 These sentences are also called
independent clauses—they are
independent because they can stand
alone.

I. Simple Sentences cont.

Simple sentences have the components
that all independent clauses need to
possess:
◦ A subject
◦ A verb
◦ Express a complete thought
II. Compound Sentences
-There are absolutely no compound
sentences in the paragraph above. If the
author had used a few compound
sentences, the flow of the paragraph
would likely be less choppy for the
reader.
 Compound sentences combine two
independent clauses.

Compound Sentence Type One

Mr. Goldberg drove to Malley’s
Chocolate Shop, and he purchased a box
of chocolates for Ms. Long.
◦ How are the independent clauses combined?
Compound Sentence Type Two

Ms. Long purchased a Circus Devils
record for Mr. Goldberg’s birthday; he
loves listening to music.
◦ How are the independent clauses combined?
Compound Sentence Type Three

Ms. Long loved the chocolates Mr.
Goldberg gave her; however, she had to
work out an extra thirty minutes the next
time she went to the gym.
◦ How are the independent clauses combined?
Writing Compound Sentences
Compound Sentences can be
successfully written in three ways:
 Type One: Insert a comma and a
coordinating conjunction between the
two independent clauses.

◦ Examples of coordinating conjunctions:
 For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so: FANBOYS
Writing Compound Sentences

Type Two: Insert a semicolon between
two independent clauses that are closely
related.
Writing Compound Sentences

Type Three: Insert semicolon and a
conjunctive adverb followed by a
comma between the two independent
clauses.
◦ Examples of conjunctive adverbs:
 Therefore, instead, meanwhile, still, also,
nevertheless, or however.
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is made up of an
independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses connected to it.
 A dependent clause cannot stand on its
own because it does not express a
complete thought.

Examples of Dependent Clauses

Examples of dependent clauses include
the following:
◦ because Mary and Samantha arrived at the
bus station before noon
◦ while he waited at the train station
◦ after they left on the bus
Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses begin with
subordinating conjunctions.
◦ Examples of Subordinating
Conjunctions:
 After, although, as, because, before, how, if, once,
since, than, that, though, until, when, where,
whether, while, etc.
Complex Sentence Type One

Although Alejandro despises asparagus, he
ate it to please the chef.
◦ How is the sentence constructed? Where is
the dependent clause located? How is it
attached to the independent clause?
Complex Sentence Type Two

Pilar has earned an A in language arts
since she began working with a tutor.
◦ How is the sentence constructed? Where is
the dependent clause located? How is it
attached to the independent clause?