ENG 1001: Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex (2024)

A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences. Becoming awareof three general types of sentences--simple, compound, and complex--can help youvary the sentences in your writing.

The most effective writing uses avariety of the sentence types explained below.

1. Simple Sentences

A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a completed thought.

Examples of simple sentences include the following:

1. Joe waited for the train.
   "Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
   
2. The train was late.
   "The train" = subject, "was" = verb
   
3. Mary and Samantha took the bus.
   "Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
   
4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.
   "I" = subject, "looked" = verb
   
5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.
   "Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" = compound verb

Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider revising someof the sentences into compound or complex sentences (explained below).

Theuse of compound subjects,compound verbs, prepositional phrases (such as"at the bus station"), and other elements help lengthen simplesentences, but simple sentences often are short. The use of too many simplesentences can make writing "choppy" and can prevent the writing fromflowing smoothly.

A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. Itis referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of acompound or complex sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete sentence.

2. Compound Sentences

A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independentclauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinatingconjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think ofthe words "FAN BOYS":

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So

Examples of compound sentences include the following:

1. Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left on the bus before I arrived.
   
4. Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus station.

Tip: If you rely heavily on compound sentences in an essay,you should consider revising some of them into complex sentences (explained below).

Coordinating conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences, but compoundsentences often are overused. While coordinating conjunctions can indicate sometype of relationship between the two independent clauses in the sentence, theysometimes do not indicate much of a relationship. The word "and," forexample, only adds one independent clause to another, without indicating how thetwo parts of a sentence are logically related. Too many compound sentences thatuse "and" can weaken writing.

Clearer and more specific relationships can be established through the use ofcomplex sentences.

3. Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or moredependent clauses connected to it. Adependent clause is similar to an independent clause, or complete sentence, butit lacks one of the elements that would make it a complete sentence.

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 such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but they can be added toan independent clause to form a complex sentence.

Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of the most common subordinating conjunctions:

• after
• although
• as
• because
• before
• even though
• if
• since
• though
• unless
• until
• when
• whenever
• whereas
• wherever
• while

A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.

The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent clause, as in the following:

Tip: When the dependent clause comes first, a comma should be used to separate the two clauses.

1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.
2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.
3. After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station.

Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the dependent clause, as in the following:

Tip: When the independent clause comes first, a comma should not be used to separate the two clauses.

1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon.
2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the train station.
3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after they left on the bus.

Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because a complex sentenceindicates clearer and more specific relationships between the main parts of the sentence. The word "before,"for instance, tells readers that one thing occurs before another. A word such as "although" conveys a more complex relationship than a word such as "and" conveys.

Beginning Sentences with "And" or "Because"

Should you begin a sentence with "and" or "but" (or one of the other coordinatingconjunctions)?

The short answer is "no." You should avoid beginning a sentence with "and," "or," "but," or the othercoordinating conjunctions. These words generally are used to join together parts of a sentence, not to begin a new sentence.

However, such sentences can be used effectively. Because sentences beginning with these words stand out, they are sometimes used for emphasis.If you use sentences beginning with one of the coordinating conjunctions, you should use these sentences sparingly and carefully.

Should you begin a sentence with "because"?

There is nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with "because."

Perhaps some students are told not to begin a sentence with "because" to avoid sentence fragments(something like "Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon" is a sentence fragment), but it is perfectly acceptable to begin a sentence with "because" as long as the sentence is complete (as in "Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not see them at the station.")