Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

Understanding sentence types: simple, compound, and complex

beginner

When to Use

•Simple: one independent clause. I like coffee.
•Compound: two independent clauses joined by and/but/or/so. I like coffee, and she likes tea.
•Complex: independent clause + dependent clause. I drink coffee because I'm tired.
•Compound-complex: two independent + one dependent. I drink coffee because I'm tired, and she drinks tea.
•Vary sentence types for better writing.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Simple: Subject + verb. Compound: Clause + , + FANBOYS + clause. Complex: Clause + subordinator + clause

Negative (-)

Same structures with negation

Question (?)

Same structures in question form

💡 FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Subordinators: because, although, when, if, etc.

Examples

✓I went to the store, and I bought milk.

✗I went to the store and, I bought milk.

Comma before the conjunction in compound sentences.

✓Because it was raining, I took an umbrella.

✗Because it was raining. I took an umbrella.

Dependent clause can't stand alone.

✓She sings well.

✗She sings well, and.

Simple sentence; no conjunction needed.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Simple: one subject-verb pair, complete thought.
• Compound: two simple sentences joined by FANBOYS.
• Complex: independent + dependent clause.
• Comma before FANBOYS; comma after introductory dependent clause.

comma-rules reason-result contrast-conjunctions 📝 sentence-structure-beginner 📝 sentence-types-quiz

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

Understanding sentence types: simple, compound, and complex

beginner

When to Use

•Simple: one independent clause. I like coffee.
•Compound: two independent clauses joined by and/but/or/so. I like coffee, and she likes tea.
•Complex: independent clause + dependent clause. I drink coffee because I'm tired.
•Compound-complex: two independent + one dependent. I drink coffee because I'm tired, and she drinks tea.
•Vary sentence types for better writing.

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Simple: Subject + verb. Compound: Clause + , + FANBOYS + clause. Complex: Clause + subordinator + clause

Negative (-)

Same structures with negation

Question (?)

Same structures in question form

💡 FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Subordinators: because, although, when, if, etc.

Examples

✓I went to the store, and I bought milk.

✗I went to the store and, I bought milk.

Comma before the conjunction in compound sentences.

✓Because it was raining, I took an umbrella.

✗Because it was raining. I took an umbrella.

Dependent clause can't stand alone.

✓She sings well.

✗She sings well, and.

Simple sentence; no conjunction needed.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Simple: one subject-verb pair, complete thought.
• Compound: two simple sentences joined by FANBOYS.
• Complex: independent + dependent clause.
• Comma before FANBOYS; comma after introductory dependent clause.

comma-rules reason-result contrast-conjunctions 📝 sentence-structure-beginner 📝 sentence-types-quiz

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I like coffee, I like tea.

✗Because I was late.

✗I went home, because I was tired.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗I like coffee, I like tea.

✗Because I was late.

✗I went home, because I was tired.

💡 Practice Tips

Related