Simple Sentence = 1 Independent Clause
Independent Clause—Contains at least 1 subject and 1 verb and can stand alone as a complete
thought.
Example: The new science teacher waits for her new folders.
Sub=teacher
Verb=waits
This pattern of subjects and verbs is often simplified as SV .
The following sentences are all examples of Simple Sentences with an SV pattern. Underline the Simple Subject once and
the Verb or Verb Phrase twice.
1. A noun is person, place, thing, or idea.
2. A flamingo is a noun.
3. Nouns will either be subjects, direct objects, predicate nominatives, objects of a
prepositional phrase, or indirect objects.
4. Tuna can be a subject.
5. It can also be a direct object.
6. Unfortunately, tornadoes during the summer can destroy entire neighborhoods.
7. Until last summer, hurricanes were seen as a manageable problem.
8. However, in August Hurricane Katrina changed all of that.
9. Now, relief agencies are working tirelessly to help those in need.
10. Well-meaning individuals from all around the country have donated tremendous
resources for those living along the Gulf Coast.
Independent Clause—Contains at least 1 subject and 1 verb and can stand alone as a complete
thought.
Example: Snow and rain will fall throughout the night.
Compound Subject = snow and rain Verb Phrase = will fall
This pattern of subjects and verbs is often simplified as SSV.
The following sentences are all examples of Simple Sentences with an SSV pattern. Underline the Compound Subject once
and the Verb or Verb Phrase twice.
11. Basketball and football are team sports involving strength and skill.
12. Hunting and fishing are individual sports involving precision and discipline.
13. Aunt Doris and Uncle Jimmy refuse to play any sport.
14. Friends and family have encouraged them to get busy doing something.
15. Doctors and researchers support an active lifestyle.
16. Unfortunately, children and adults continue to ignore this advice.
17. The stubborn, ignorant, and passive will resist any type of exercise.
18. Either Aunt Doris or Uncle Jimmy needs to be the first to push for a change.
Independent Clause—Contains at least 1 subject and 1 verb and can stand alone as a complete
thought.
Example: Michigan cherries taste and smell sweeter than honey!
Sub=cherries
Compound Verbs=taste and smell
This pattern of subjects and verbs is often simplified as SVV.
The following sentences are all examples of Simple Sentences with an SVV pattern. Underline the Simple Subject once and
the Compound Verb or Verb Phrase twice.
19. Tommy failed English and needs summer school.
20. He will pay the entire amount tomorrow and work hard next semester.
21. His parents are upset but believe him.
22. They bought him a computer for Christmas but returned it after the news.
23. Now he’s riding his bike to the library and working there.
24. In the snow, he bundles up and walks.
25. His parents enforce rules of tough love and insist upon his independence.
26. He grows sad but refuses to quit.
27. Others with these types of problems might surrender and quit.
28. Tommy knows and believes in the lessons learned.
Independent Clause—Contains at least 1 subject and 1 verb and can stand alone as a complete
thought.
Example: Movies and plays entertain and educate children around the world.
Compound Subjects= movies and plays
Compound Verbs=entertain and educate
This pattern of subjects and verbs is often simplified as SSVV.
The following sentences are all examples of Simple Sentences with an SSVV pattern. Underline the Compound Subject
once and the Compound Verb or Verb Phrase twice.
29. Students and teachers arrived and watched the world’s greatest tournament.
30. Either Terrence or Michael would score the run and secure the victory.
31. Mandy, Alice, and Nora play instruments and sing nicely together.
32. The band and the dancers start the tournament and excite the crowd.
33. You and I should have purchased twenty tickets or stayed home.
34. Drinking water and eating vegetables aids your metabolism and cleans your system.
35. Recycling and reusing will reduce waste and create a healthier environment.
36. Losing a calculator and paying for a new one will teach anyone a valuable lesson and
generate a responsible individual.
Simple Sentence = 1 Independent Clause
Independent Clause—Contains at least 1 subject and 1 verb and can stand alone as a complete
thought.
--While sentences may contain Compound Subjects and Verbs, the basic formula should
remain consistent with Subject(s)/Verb(s). Of course there may be exceptions, but if you get into the
habit of identifying Subjects and Verbs and following these patterns, you should have consistent
success identifying SIMPLE SENTENCES.
Types of Patterns: SV, SSV, SVV, SSVV
The following sentences are all simple. Underline the subject(s) once and the verb(s) twice. At the end of the sentence,
identify the pattern as either SV, SSV, SVV, or SSVV.
1. On the banks of the river we ate cheese and crackers and drank punch. _______
2. Andy plays basketball but does not enjoy it. __________
3. The guitar is a great instrument to play at night. __________
4. Blueberry pancakes and bacon will make a fine breakfast this morning. _________
5. The boy finished his milk without making a huge fuss. _________
6. Reading is an important skill for success in the future. __________
7. The monkeys run in their cage but sit all day long in their tree. ___________
8. The tigers and bears prefer to eat all day and sleep all night. __________
9. When will you learn to tie your shoes? ______________
10. Remember to put your name on top and hand me your homework. __________
11. Prancing through the rain, the horses were unaware of the looming storm. _________
12. The Survivor contestants complained about the rules of the game. ____________
13. Independent clauses and subordinate clauses are essential in our language. _________
14. Typing and reading skills are encouraged by colleges but discouraged in High School. _______
15. You can have two or three subjects in a simple sentence. ___________
16. Random thoughts and stupid statements trickle down the hallways at break time. _________
17. Tuna and peanut butter sandwiches are the most popular lunches in 9th grade. _________
18. On clash day Melissa spiked her hair and colored it red. _____________
19. Crying in baseball is forbidden by certain managers. ___________
20. Jack and Jill climbed the hill and tripped over the pail of water. __________
21. Pirates will destroy your ship and take your treasure. ________
22. Captain Ahab spent several years hunting the white whale. __________
23. Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader are Max’s favorite Star Wars characters. ___________
24. Maddie loves Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel. _____________
Compound Sentence = 2 or more Independent Clauses joined by either a
comma/coordinating conjunction or a semi colon.
Coordinating Conjunctions: Think, “FAN BOYS.”
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
--In identifying Compound Sentences, you will continue identifying Subjects and Verbs. You
should be paying attention to the formulas and patterns regulating Simple Sentences. However, you’re
looking for Coordinating Conjunctions and Semi Colons CONNECTING Independent Clauses.
Examples: Compound Sentence—The announcements will run all day, but no one will read them.
Pattern: SV ,but SV (Announcements will run, but no one will read)
The sentence is compound because 2 independent clauses are joined by the , coordinating conjunction.
Simple Sentence—We will read announcements but ignore their content.
Pattern: SVV
Even though this sentence has the coordinating conjunction “but”, it is simple because “but” is NOT
joining 2 independent clauses. It’s joining two verbs. This is the trickiest part if you’re not paying
attention.
The following sentences are all compound. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Also, circle the coordinating
conjunction or semi colon that LINKS the independent clauses.
1. The kids are in school, and many look extremely bored.
2. Little Billy tries to do his best, but the work just gets harder and harder.
3. In the morning he drinks his juice, eats his toast, and brushes his teeth, but nothing helps.
4. One time at band camp, a girl tried to help him with some lessons, but he freaked out.
5. He couldn’t remember her name, and she got angry.
6. Little Billy tried telling his parents about little Suzy, but his dad couldn’t hear him.
7. Billy’s father had always bragged about Billy at work, but now shame would take over.
8. Billy couldn’t live with that guilt, so he dedicated himself to being better with names.
9. Little Suzy saw Billy at school, and she couldn’t believe it!
10. He’d cut his hair, bought new clothes, and trimmed his nails, but something else was different.
11. She waited until band class to make her move and ask him out, but, even then, she was afraid.
12. Little Suzy had only loved one guy before, and he left her after the prom.
13. She was willing to confront Billy, yet something held her back.
14. She decided to bake him an apple pie, for she heard that it was his favorite.
15. She arrived early for class the next day and waited for him to sit down, but he never showed.
16. Suzy gave the pie to the drummer, and he smiled thankfully.
17. The drummer loved hot, apple pie, and he couldn’t wait to get home.