Sentences : Simple, Compound and Complex

Sentences are of three kinds on the basis of clauses.

Sentences
• Simple
• Compound
• Complex

Before learning the sentences, we must know what the independent clauses and dependent clauses are.

I am hungry.

↓

when I eat leaves

↓

I grow fast

↓

after that I turn into a butterfly

↓

that comes out of a cocoon

The clauses that are bold can stand on their own. They do not depend on other clauses to make complete sense.
They are main clauses. They are also called independent clauses.

The clauses that are underlined cannot stand on their own. They depend on other clauses to complete their meanings.
They are subordinate clauses. they are also called dependent clauses.

Simple sentence

A simple sentence contains only one main clause and no other clause.

Example,

• Jai ate his lunch.
• This is an interesting book.

• A sentence that has only one subject and one predicate is called a simple sentence.
• A simple sentence must contain a finite verb.

Compound Sentence

A sentence that contains two or more main clauses is called a compound sentence. These clauses are connected with conjunction.

For Example,

• Sonia likes to eat fruits, but she does not like apples.

This sentence has more than one subject and predicate. Therefore, it is not a simple sentence.
This sentence has two clauses - Sonia likes to eat fruits and she does not like apples.
Both of them are main clauses since they are complete in meaning and can stand on their own. These two clauses are joined by the conjunction but to form a longer sentence.
So this sentence is a compound sentence.
Conjunctions that join two or more main clauses are called coordinating conjunctions. The conjunctions and, but, or, yet, for and so are some common coordinating conjunctions.

The conjunctions of compound sentences differ from that of complex sentences.

Complex Sentence

A sentence that has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses is called a complex sentence.

For Example,

• She must go to bed when the lights are out.

This sentence also contains two clauses.
The first clause is - She must go to bed. This clause can stand on its own. It is a main clause.
The second clause is - when the lights are out. This clause cannot stand on its own. It needs the first clause to complete its meaning. It is subordinate clause.
Since this sentence contains a main clause and a subordinate clause, it is a complex sentence.

• The subordinate clause is joined to the main clause using conjunctions such as because, since, after, although, as soon as and when.
• Subordinate clauses are also joined to the main clause with the help of relative pronouns such as that, who, or which.

Sentences : Phrases and Clauses

Phrase

Sometimes a group of two or more words make sense but may not convey complete meaning.

For example :

• in the bag
• at seven o'clock
• purple and green

Look at these examples :

• the tall boy (verb is missing)
• ran fast (subject is missing)
• around the track (subject and verb are missing)

In the phrase, either the subject, the verb, or both are missing.

Clause

A clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a predicate. It may form a sentence or be a part of a sentence.

For example :

• He ran fast yet he could not catch the train.

In the above sentence two clauses are there. First is He ran fast, this clause has its own subject 'he' and verb 'ran'. The second clause has a subject 'he' and its verb 'could not catch'. It is not possible that all the clauses make complete sense.'he ran fast,' shows complete sense but 'yet he could not catch the train' does not show a complete sense. The second clause is a dependent clause.

Thus we can say that 'He ran fast' is a complete sentence as well as a clause but 'yet he could not catch the train, is only a clause not a sentence because it does not express complete sense and is dependent upon the first clause.

Types of Clauses

There are two types of clauses.

Independent or Main clause

An independent or main clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

For example :

• We played football yesterday.

Dependent or Subordinate clause

A dependent or subordinate clause expresses a partial thought and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

For example :

• Because it was a holiday.

Here, the clause expresses a thought, but it needs a main clause to complete the meaning.

Dependent clause does not express a complete thought.

• A dependent clause is usually combined with an independent clause to form a sentence.
  For example :
  
  • We played football yesterday because it was a holiday.


• Two independent clauses can also be combined with a conjunction to form a sentence.
  For example :
  
  • I played football and my brother read a book.

Sentences

When a group of words is arranged in a proper order and gives complete meaning, this is called a sentence.

Parts of a sentence

Sentence	=	Subject	+	Predicate
The earth's land was once made- up of a single continent.	=	The earth's land	+	was once made-up of a single continent

Subject :The part of sentence which names a person or a thing is called the subject.

Predicate : The part of the sentence that tells us about the subject is called the predicate.

• Subject mat be of one word or more than one word.
• Predicate must start with a verb.

Types of sentences

In your previous classes, you have learned the different types of sentences. Let's revise them.

• An assertive or declarative sentence is a statement that provides some information.
  • We walk to nearby places instead of taking the car.
  • They did not understand what the teacher explained.


• An interrogative sentence is used to ask questions.
  For example :
  • Does his younger brother learn music?
  • What do you want for your Diwali present?


• An imperative sentence is used either to give commands or make requests.
  For example :
  • Don't waste food.
  • Please tell me a story.
  Now read these sentences
  • Go to sleep.
  • Please form a queue.

  Note that these are imperative sentences. The subject You is understood in these sentences.

  • (You) go to sleep.
  • (You) please form a queue.

  Subject (you) is hidden in imperative sentence.



• An exclamatory sentence shows a strong emotion or feeling.
  For example :
  • Such a beautiful viw it was!
  • Bravo! You have hit the ball.