What Is a Simple Sentence?

A simple sentence is a sentence made up of just one independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete idea. It can stand alone as a complete sentence. Even if the sentence includes objects, adverbs, or prepositional phrases, it’s still a simple sentence as long as there is just one independent clause.

Key features of simple sentences:

• One independent clause only (no dependent or subordinate clauses)

• Must include a subject and a verb

• Can include objects or additional phrases, but still stays as one clause

Examples of Simple Sentences

Here are some simple sentences, with explanations:

• He plays football.
  This sentence has one subject (“he”) and one verb (“plays”). It’s short but complete.

• The children are watching a movie.
  Even though it’s longer, it still has just one independent clause: one subject (“the children”) and one verb (“are watching”).

• She studied hard for the exam yesterday.
  This includes a time phrase (“yesterday”) and an object (“for the exam”), but there is still only one clause.

How Is a Simple Sentence Different from a Compound Sentence?

A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses. Each clause could be a simple sentence on its own, but they are joined together using a coordinating conjunction like and, but, or so.

• Simple: I like tea.

• Compound: I like tea, and I also like coffee.
  → This has two independent clauses joined with “and”:

  1. I like tea.

  2. I also like coffee.

In a compound sentence, both parts make complete sense on their own, but are linked to show a connection.

How Is a Simple Sentence Different from a Complex Sentence?

A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone — it needs the main clause to make sense.

• Simple: He went home.

• Complex: He went home because he was tired.
  → The part “because he was tired” is a dependent clause. It gives more information but cannot stand alone.

In complex sentences, common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, if, when, while, and since.

Summary

To summarize the differences:

• Simple sentence: One independent clause (e.g. The cat slept.)

• Compound sentence: Two or more independent clauses joined by and, but, or, etc. (e.g. The cat slept, and the dog barked.)

• Complex sentence: One independent clause plus one or more dependent clauses (e.g. The cat slept because it was tired.)