A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.

 

 

 

 

A.   Some students like to study in the mornings

B.    Juan and Mark play football every afternoon.

C.    Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.

 

 

 

A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by one of the following: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

 

 

 

  A. I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English. 
  B. Tom played football, so Maria went shopping. 

 

A complex sentence has an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. A complex sentence always has a subordinator such as if, because, since, after, although, or when or a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which.

 

 

 

 

 

A. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page. 
B. The teacher returned the homework after she noticed the error. 
C. The students who are on the bus to the United States are studying English.