Simple Compound and Complex Sentences Rules Made Simple - Even Your Kids Can Do It

Need More Time? Read These Tips To Eliminate SIMPLE COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES RULES

What is the structural difference between a simple, compound and a complex sentence? or How does a complex sentence different from a compound sentence?

There are three types of sentences.

1. Simple sentences 2. Compound sentences3. Complex sentences 

SIMPLE COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES RULES

SIMPLE COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES RULES

(1) Simple sentence:

                     A simple sentence has only one subject and one predicate. i.e. The doer of an action. 

Example: 1. That child is playing. 
               2. Barking dogs seldom bite.
               3. A leader must be honest.

   Subject                                                                  Predicate
1. That child                                                             is playing.
2. Barking dogs                                                        seldom bite.
3. A leader                                                               must be honest.

(2) Compound Sentence:

                      Which is made up of principal or main clause is called a compound sentence.

Example: 1. Navin is my friend and Cheri is her daughter.
              2. Man proposes and God disposes of.
              3. I came, I saw, I conquered. 

                In sentences (1) and (2) there are two sentences and those are joined by 'and'. Those sentences are called clauses. both the sentences in (1) and (2) are independent sentences. 

                In sentence (3) there are three sentences and those are joined by commas, connectives and not used. A comma is used in the sense of 'and'.

(3) Complex sentence: 

                    A complex sentence consists of one main clause and one more subordinate clauses. 

Example: 1. This is the house that my father built. 
               2. He came to my house when my father was showing a book which he brought for me. 

                  Sentence no.(1) is made up of two sentences (1) This is the house and (2) that my father built. 

                 Sentences "that my father built" does not give a complete sense. It is not independent. It is dependent upon sentence. Sentence (1) and (2) is the subordinate clause and sentence (1) is the principal clause.

                 In sentence (2) there are three sentences. Only one sentence. "He came to my house" expresses a complete thought. It is independent. It is the principal. The other two sentences ' When my father was showing a book' and which he bought for me are subordinate clauses.