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Explaining Simple and Compound Sentences
Simple Sentences
Simple sentences consist of just one clause – a main (independent) clause.
Note: A clause is a unit of meaning, expressing a message.
A simple sentence contains:
 one idea or message
 one clause
 one verb/verb group (process)
For example:
 Angela heard a knock at the door.
 She opened the door.
 There on the front door step was a baby monster.
Compound Sentences
Compound sentences consist of two or more main (independent) clauses.
Both clauses contain a message and are of equal importance/status. These
clauses can be connected by a coordinating (linking) conjunction, such as
and, or, but, and then, (and) so, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but
also, yet
A compound sentence contains:
 two or more ideas or messages
 two or more clauses
 two or more verbs/verb groups (processes)
 typically, a coordinating (linking) conjunction.
For example:
 Angela heard a knock at the door so she opened the door.
 She opened the door and there on the front door step was a baby
monster.
 Angela heard a knock at the door so she opened the door and there
on the front door step was a baby monster.
Note: Where the subject is the same in both clauses it can be omitted from
the second clause:
Angela carried him in and she brought him up.
Angela carried him in and brought him up.
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