English Composition 1

Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences. Becoming aware
of three general types of sentences--simple, compound, and complex--can help
you vary the sentences in your writing.
The most effective writing uses a variety of the sentence types explained below.

1. Simple Sentences
A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a
subject, a verb, and a completed thought.
Examples of simple sentences include the following:
1. Joe waited for the train.
"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb

2. The train was late.

"The train" = subject, "was" = verb

3. Mary and Samantha took the bus.

"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb

4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.

"I" = subject, "looked" = verb

5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon
for the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" =
compound verb

The use of compound subjects, compound verbs, Tip: If you use many simple
sentences in an essay, you
prepositional phrases (such as "at the bus station"), and should consider revising some
other elements help lengthen simple sentences, but simple of the sentences into compound
or complex sentences
sentences often are short. The use of too many simple (explained below).
sentences can make writing "choppy" and can prevent the
writing from flowing smoothly.
A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is
referred to as "independent" because, while it might be part of a compound or
complex sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete sentence.

2. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence refers to a sentence made up of two independent
clauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating
conjunction. Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember if you think of the
words "FAN BOYS":
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Examples of compound sentences include the following:
1. Joe waited for the train, but the train was late.

2. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the
station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.

3. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, and they left
on the bus before I arrived.

4. Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them
at the bus station.

Coordinating conjunctions are useful for connecting Tip: If you rely heavily on
compound sentences in an
sentences, but compound sentences often are overused. essay, you should consider
While coordinating conjunctions can indicate some type of revising some of them into
complex sentences (explained
relationship between the two independent clauses in the below).
sentence, they sometimes do not indicate much of a
relationship. The word "and," for example, only adds one independent clause to
another, without indicating how the two parts of a sentence are logically related.
Too many compound sentences that use "and" can weaken writing.
Clearer and more specific relationships can be established through the use of
complex sentences.

3. Complex Sentences
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses connected to it. A dependent clause is similar to an
independent clause, or complete sentence, but it lacks one of the elements that
would make it a complete sentence.
Examples of dependent clauses include the following:
because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon
while he waited at the train station
after they left on the bus
Dependent clauses such as those above cannot stand alone as a sentence, but
they can be added to an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. Below are some of
the most common subordinating conjunctions:
after
although
as
because
before
even though
if
since
though
unless
until
when
whenever
whereas
wherever
while
A complex sentence joins an independent clause with one or more dependent
clauses.
The dependent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the independent
clause, as in the following:
1. Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus Tip: When the dependent
clause comes first, a comma
station before noon, I did not see them at the station. should be used to separate the
2. While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that two clauses.
the train was late.
3. After they left on the bus, Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was
waiting at the train station.
Conversely, the independent clauses can go first in the sentence, followed by the
dependent clause, as in the following:
1. I did not see them at the station because Mary and Tip: When the independent
clause comes first, a comma
Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon. should not be used to separate
2. Joe realized that the train was late while he waited at the two clauses.
the train station.
3. Mary and Samantha realized that Joe was waiting at the train station after
they left on the bus.
Complex sentences are often more effective than compound sentences because
a complex sentence indicates clearer and more specific relationships between
the main parts of the sentence. The word "before," for instance, tells readers that
one thing occurs before another. A word such as "although" conveys a more
complex relationship than a word such as "and" conveys.

The term periodic sentence is used to refer to a complex

sentence beginning with a dependent clause and ending with an
independent clause, as in "While he waited at the train station, Joe
realized that the train was late."

Periodic sentences can be especially effective because the

completed thought occurs at the end of it, so the first part of the
sentence can build up to the meaning that comes at the end.

Beginning Sentences with "And" or "Because"

Should you begin a sentence with "and" or "but" (or one of the other
coordinating conjunctions)?
The short answer is "no." You should avoid beginning a sentence with "and," "or,"
"but," or the other coordinating conjunctions. These words generally are used to
join together parts of a sentence, not to begin a new sentence.
However, such sentences can be used effectively. Because sentences beginning
with these words stand out, they are sometimes used for emphasis. If you use
sentences beginning with one of the coordinating conjunctions, you should use
these sentences sparingly and carefully.
Should you begin a sentence with "because"?
There is nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with "because."
Perhaps some students are told not to begin a sentence with "because" to avoid
sentence fragments (something like "Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the
bus station before noon" is a sentence fragment), but it is perfectly acceptable to
begin a sentence with "because" as long as the sentence is complete (as in
"Because Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station before noon, I did not
see them at the station.")

Watch It!

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences from the Writing

Center at Texas A & M
Page copyright Randy Rambo, 2019.