English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
A simple sentence is a single independent clause. Usually there is one subject doing one thing, although you might have two subjects doing one thing (compound subject) or one subject doing two things (compound verb). Simple sentence – declarative sentence:Bob… Read more529. A Simple Sentence Can be Declarative, Interrogatory, Exclamatory, or Imperative
Section A: For each pair of sentences below, decide if A or B is the simple sentence.1. A. Bob walked across the street. B. Bob walked across the street before the light turned red. 2. A. Frank and Carol are… Read more530. Practice with Sentences
When we put two simple sentences together, we form a compound sentence. We use a coordinating conjunction along with a comma to join two simple sentences. The word conjunction means “to join.” There are seven coordinating conjunctions. If we list… Read more531. Two Simple Sentences Make a Compound Sentence
Here are two simple sentences: I play the piano. Jenna plays the trumpet.We can make these two simple sentences into a compound sentence by adding a comma and the conjunction and: I play the piano, and Jenna plays the trumpet…. Read more532. Compound Sentence or Not?
A compound sentence is formed by joining two simple sentences together. Each independent clause is a simple sentence, We join the two simple sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction. There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but,… Read more533. Always Use a Comma in a Compound Sentence
An independent clause is a group of words with a subject doing something. In an independent clause, only one thing is happening. A simple sentence is one independent clause. A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined together. We can… Read more534. What is an Independent Clause?
A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb. An independent clause tells about one thing happening. We learned last week that one independent clause makes a simple sentence. Two independent clauses joined by a… Read more536. Dependent and Independent Clauses
A subordinate clause is the same thing as a dependent clause. We call it a subordinate clause because it is not as important as the independent clause. We call it a dependent clause because it is dependent on the independent… Read more537. A Subordinate Clause is a Dependent Clause
A complex sentence is made up of a subordinate clause connected to an independent clause. Sometimes the subordinate clause comes first in the sentence. Then the sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction. Here are some examples of a complex sentence… Read more538. The Complex Sentence
A complex sentence combines an independent clause with a dependent clause. It doesn’t really matter if you begin with the independent clause or the dependent clause. Both ways make a correct sentence. However, whichever clause you use first is usually… Read more539. More About the Complex Sentence