Simple Compound Complex Sentences for ESL Students

Simple Compound Complex Compound-Complex Sentences

Simple Sentence

A simple sentence (an independent clause) contains a subject and a predicate which expresses one complete thought.
It does not start with a prepositional phrase.

Examples

Yoosuf brushed his teeth in the morning.
The baby laughed.
I am a teacher.
Birds fly.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses (complete thoughts).
These independent clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Sometimes a semicolon is used to join compound sentences.

Examples

Yoosuf brushes his teeth in the morning. Yoosuf’s teeth are nice and clean.
Yoosuf brushes his teeth in the morning, so his teeth are nice and clean.
The baby laughed at the cartoon. The baby played with her toys.
The baby laughed at the cartoon, and she played with his toys.
She tried to lift the suitcase. The suitcase was too heavy.
She tried to lift the suitcase, but it was too heavy.
We can take a bus to the supermarket. We can just walk there.
We can take a bus to the supermarket, or we can just walk there.

Complex Sentence

A complex sentence is an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses.
A dependent clause either lacks a subject or a verb or has both a subject and a verb that does not express a complete thought.
A complex sentence always has subordinating conjunctions. (although, after, before, because, since, if, until, unless, as, when,......etc.,) or relative pronouns (who, which, that, whom, whose, where…...etc.,).
Subordinate clauses are linked by either subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun.

Examples:

The girl brushes her teeth in the morning after waking up.
The baby laughed because the cartoon was funny.
I can’t wait to meet everyone at the birthday party which is tomorrow.
I know a guy who plays guitar in a rock band.
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings.