To learn English composition, it is important to know various types of sentences. We should also learn how to form these sentences. Let us see the following sentences:
He plays football. - (Simple sentence)
He plays football, and his brother supports him. - (Compound sentence)
He plays football, when he gets time. - (Complex sentence)
The first sentence is very simple, and it has only one finite verb 'plays'. A finite verb is a verb-form that shows agreement with the subject. In this sentence, the verb 'plays' agrees with the singular subject 'He'. So, He plays football is a simple sentence.
And we can say:
A simple sentence is a single sentence.
Further, the second and the third sentences are formed by combining two sentences each. The second sentence has two finite verbs: plays and supports. The third sentence also has two finite verbs: plays and gets. So, there are not simple sentences. The second is a compound sentence, and the third is a complex sentence.
To differentiate between a compound sentence and a complex sentence, we need to know one more concept.
When two or more small sentences form one sentence, each small sentence is termed as 'Clause'. When a clause makes a complete sense, it is 'Principal (Main) Clause, and when a clause does not make a complete sense, it is called a 'Subordinate Clause'.
The second sentence has two 'Principal clauses': He plays football and his brother supports him, as both the clauses make complete sense. Therefore, it is a compound sentence.
In easy language:
A compound sentence is the combination of two or more clauses of equal rank.
Now, the third sentence has a clause: when he gets time him. This clause is a 'Subordinate clause' because it does not give a complete meaning until it is complemented by the 'Principal clause': He plays football. Therefore, the third sentence is a compound sentence.
In a nutshell:
A complex sentence is the combination of two or more interdependent clauses.
Let us learn a little more.The conjunction that joins two principal clauses is a coordinate conjunction, and the conjunction that joins a subordinate clause with a principal clause is a subordinate conjunction. 'And' is a coordinate conjunction and 'When' is a subordinate conjunction.
Coordinate conjunctions are: and, or, but, yet, whereas etc.
More sentences:
1. Simple sentences
- I want to meet him to discuss my problems.
- He along with his friends goes for a walk every morning.
2. Compound sentences
- He likes comedy, but his brother likes tragedy.
- She entered the room, switched on all the lights, threw her bag on the table, and lay on the bed.
3. Complex sentences
- He does not want to meet anyone, because he is very upset.
- When I went to meet him, I found that he was busy in his work.
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