SIMPLE, COMPOUND, COMPLEX
& COMPOUND-COMPLEX
SENTENCES
Simple sentences
A simple sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
Eg:
The earth moves round the sun.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Kavya bought a pen.
We are going to the park.
My mother ordered a birthday cake.
A simple sentence is also called as an independent clause.
Compound sentences
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Trick to remember coordinating conjunctions - “FAN BOYS”
For And Nor But Or Yet So
Eg:
Meena is a teacher and her brother is a doctor.
He worked hard, but failed the examination.
I can go to college or study at home.
Nithya is not well, yet she decided to go to work.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
COORDINATING
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
CONJUNCTION
Complex sentences
A complex sentence has one independent clause and one to two dependent clauses. A
complex sentence always has a subordinating conjunction (because, since, after, although,
when…) or a pronoun (who, which, and that).
If a dependent clause has a subordinating conjunction and is located at the beginning of
the sentence, a comma should be used to separate it from the independent clause.
Eg:
Unless you work hard you cannot get success.
As the decision has already been taken the arguments are useless
[Link] IAS ACADEMY 82972 11199 389
Simple,Compound,Complex & Compound-Complex
A friend who helps you in time of need is a real friend.
Doctors claim that cancer is curable.
I have a friend whose hair is pink.
This is the book that everyone is talking about.
Students stood up when the teacher entered the classroom.
Although they lost the match, they were not disgraced.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE SUBORDINATING
DEPENDENT CLAUSE
CONJUNCTION
Compound-complex sentences
A compound-complex sentence has two independent clauses joined to one or more dependent
clauses.
Eg:
While Sita reads novels, Geeta reads comics, but Ram reads only magazines.
The baby slept and dreamed, and the mother watched while the rain fell.
The cat ran away, but nobody was worried because he was trained to find his home.
Since she was a vegetarian, she refused to eat the turkey, but she was more than happy
to eat the potatoes.
When I went to the store, my parents wanted me to pick up some milk, but I didn’t have
enough money.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE SUBORDINATING
DEPENDENT CLAUSE
CONJUNCTION
COORDINATING
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
CONJUNCTION
EXERCISE
1) Because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
2) Although there is inflation, the standard of living has gone up.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
3) She runs every day, so she is very fit.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
4) Even though he’s thoroughly trained, he still makes a lot of mistakes.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
[Link] IAS ACADEMY 82972 11199 390
Simple,Compound,Complex & Compound-Complex
5) His son, the pride of his age, is dead.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
6) While I was doing my homework, my father cooked the dinner, and my mother was
asleep in front of the television.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
7) Because almost all parts of Hawaii are almost always cooled by winds, visitors rarely
complain about the heat.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
8) I like playing basketball, and my brother likes playing tennis.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
9) We can survive at the temperature of 44 degree Celsius.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
10) Although it was cold, and the rain was getting heavier, we decided to go fishing as
planned.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
11) If he wants to join us, he needs to ask the man who invited us to the party, or he can stay
home.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
12) The rain started as soon as they left home to attend a meeting.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
13) Since we had only gone a mile from camp, we decided to return before dark.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
14) Sue complained to her waiter, so he gave her a discount after he spoke to his
manager.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
15) When the lawyer made the objection, the judge overruled him, so the witness
answered the question.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex d) Compound-complex
1. c 2. c 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. d 7. c 8. b 9. a 10. d
11. d 12. b 13. b 14. d 15. d
[Link] IAS ACADEMY 82972 11199 391
