Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences

Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences is good for you. It clearly teaches the concepts. Before we start the definition and rules of sentences, let’s examine the following sentences first.

  1. His courage makes everything possible.
  2. The sun is shining and we can start our work.
  3. The chief guest came and the meeting started and we all took seats.
  4. The children started crying when the toys got broken.
  5. When the players went into the ground, the umpire said that they should be ready for a toss.
  6. Ankit made mistakes and I told him that he should say sorry.

Let us have a close observation of the above sentences and find the definition of simple, compound and complex sentences.

Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences

Definition of Complex Sentence-

If we see sentence 1, we can see there are 1 subject and 1 predicate part.

  1. Subject – His courage
  2. Predicate – makes everything possible.

Such kinds of sentences are called Simple Sentences. Therefore, we can define a simple sentence in the following words.

If there are one subject and one predicate in a sentence, it is a simple sentence. In other words, we can say a simple sentence has one finite verb. 

Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences

Definition of Compound Sentence-

We have got the one definition of the Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences. Now let’s move on to the second definition i.e. the definition of a compound sentence.

If we can observe the second sentence, there are two parts i.e. clauses.

Clause 1 – The sun is shining.

The subject is the sun and predicate is – is shining.

Clause 2 – We can start our work.

The subject is we and the predicate is – can start our work.

Every clause has its own subject and predicate. Both the clauses are connected with the coordinating conjunction – and. They make a complete sense and can stand by itself. Therefore, they are independent clause i.e. principal clause. Or you can say the main clause. Both the sentences are of the same order or rank.

Now, let’s have a look on sentence 3. There are 3 clauses in the sentence.

  1. Clause 1– The chief guest came.
  2. Clause 2– The meeting started.
  3. Clause 3– We all took seats.

All the clauses are connected with the coordinating conjunctions. They also have complete sense. It means they are principal clauses. So, such a sentence having more than two principal clauses are also called a compound sentence.

So, we can say if a sentence has two or more than two principal clauses, it is a compound sentence. 

Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences

Definition of Complex Sentence-

Thus we have got another definition of the Different Types of Sentences – Simple Compound and Complex Sentences. Now let’s move on to the third and last definition i.e. the definition of a complex sentence.

Let’s see the sentence 4. There are 2 clauses in the sentence. See the clauses below-

  1. Clause 1– The children started crying.
  2. Clause 2– When the toys got broken.

In the above clauses, the subject and predicate are different. Now, let’s see what kinds of clause they are. The first clause, can stand by itself and makes good sense. Therefore, it is the principal / main clause. But, the second clause, does not make a good sense and can not stand by itself. It is dependent on the principal clause for its complete meaning. It, therefore, is a subordinate clause.

Pay Your Extra Attention

Now, let’s see the sentence 5. In this sentence, there are 3 clauses.

  1. Clause 1– When the players went into the ground.
  2. Clause 2– The umpire said.
  3. Clause 3– That they should be ready for a toss.

The first clause does not make good sense and can not stand by itself. It, therefore, is a subordinate clause. Now, let’s see the second clause. It makes good sense and stands by itself. It, therefore, is a principal clause. Now, let’s move on the third sentence. It can not make good sense and stand by itself. So, it is a subordinate clause. It means, there are 3 clauses – 1 principal and 2 subordinate. This type of sentence is a complex sentence.

So, we can further say if there are 1 principal clause and one or more than one subordinate clauses in a sentence, the sentence is a complex sentence.

Now, let’s us see sentence 6. There are 3 clauses in this sentence as well.

  1. Clause 1– Ankit made mistakes.
  2. Clause 2– I told him.
  3. Clause 3– That he should say sorry.

The first sentence can make good sense and stand by itself. It, therefore, is a principal clause. The second sentence also can make good sense and stand by itself. So, it is also a principal clause. The third sentence can not make good sense and stand by itself. So, this is a subordinate clause. Such a sentence is a compound sentence not complex.

We can say if a sentence has 2 principal clauses in a sentence, it is a compound sentence. There may be 1 or more than 1 subordinate clause. Still, it is a compound sentence, not a complex one.

Time for Exercise of Simple, Compound and Complex Sentence

Hope, you understand the definition and differences between the clauses thoroughly. Finally, leave a comment below if you got it. If not, write about your confusion in the comment box.

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