Simple, compound and complex sentences
Classify sentences by structure and convert between the three types.
Now that you can spot clauses, you can classify whole sentences by how many clauses they have and how those clauses are joined.
A sentence is simple, compound or complex depending on how many clauses it contains and whether those clauses are equal or dependent.
Examples
- The children flew kites on Makar Sankranti. (simple)
- The lights went out, and everyone screamed. (compound)
- Meena practised hard, yet she felt nervous. (compound)
- When the lights went out, everyone screamed. (complex)
- I will lend you my camera if you return it by Monday. (complex)
How it works
Simple sentence
A simple sentence has one main clause with one finite verb. It may still be long because of phrases, but it has only one subject–verb core.
After a long day at the office, Neha relaxed on the balcony.
Compound sentence
A compound sentence has two or more main clauses of equal rank, joined by and, but, or, so, yet or by a semicolon. Each clause could stand alone.
The water was cold, but we swam anyway.
Complex sentence
A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses introduced by words such as because, when, although, if, who, that.
The parcel that you sent arrived today.
Converting between types
Turn a phrase into a clause, or a clause into a phrase, and change the joining word to match. Always check that the meaning stays the same.
Being ill, he stayed home. → He was ill, so he stayed home. → He stayed home because he was ill.
Quick reference
| Type | Sentence | How it is built |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | On reaching the station, we bought tickets. | phrase + one main clause |
| Compound | We reached the station, and we bought tickets. | two main clauses joined by and |
| Complex | When we reached the station, we bought tickets. | adverb clause + main clause |
| Simple | Despite the heat, they kept working. | phrase + one main clause |
| Compound | It was hot, but they kept working. | two main clauses joined by but |
| Complex | Although it was hot, they kept working. | adverb clause + main clause |
Common mistakes
✕Although the rent was high, but we took the flat.
✓Although the rent was high, we took the flat.
A complex sentence needs only the subordinating conjunction.
✕I was tired, I went to bed.
✓I was tired, so I went to bed.
A comma alone cannot join two main clauses; add a conjunction or use a semicolon.
✕Because he missed the bus.
✓He was late because he missed the bus.
A subordinate clause on its own is a fragment, not a sentence.
Worked example
Exercise 1
What kind of sentence is this?
"The peacock danced in the rain." This is ___ sentence. (a simple / a compound / a complex)
✓"The peacock danced in the rain." This is a simple sentence.
It has only one subject and one finite verb, so it is simple.
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