Key Takeaway
- Simple sentences express one clear idea and contain one independent clause (subject + predicate) and no dependent clause(s).
- An example of a simple sentence is “Adam jumped on his trampoline.” (Adam = subject and jumped on his trampoline = predicate).
- Every simple sentence must contain a noun/pronoun and a verb but can include other modifiers such as a direct object, prepositional phrase, adjective, adverb, compound verb or subject.
- Simple sentences are the building blocks for other sentence structures including compound, complex, and compound-complex.
If there’s one thing that all writers have to work with, it’s sentence structure. Every day we come across the four types of sentences—simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex—in books, on signs, or even in quick texts to friends. When choosing the sentence structure that works best for your writing, you should begin with the basics, which start with simple sentences (think: the subject-verb combo that makes a sentence like “I love cake.” and “Dogs are fun.”).
Don’t let the word “simple” fool you, though—a simple sentence can be more than just a few words. Mastering these will make a huge difference in how clear and effective your writing is. In this guide, we’ll break down what actually makes a sentence “simple,” simple sentence examples, how to craft one, and how these sentences compare to the other structures.
What Is a Simple Sentence?
As the name implies, a simple sentence contains the most basic elements that make up a sentence. It contains a subject (a noun or pronoun that is performing an action) and a predicate (a verb or verb phrase that describes the action being performed). This short combination stands alone as a complete thought, known as an independent clause. However, it is important to note that the predicate frequently includes additional words, rather than just the verb itself, to fully describe how the action verb is carried out. Here are a few examples with the subject italicized and the predicate underlined:
- Sally laughs.
- The boy runs.
- My friend called me yesterday.
- The cat chased the mouse.
Simple sentences do not have any dependent clauses. These types of clauses need to be attached to an independent clause to form a complete thought. Examples of dependent clauses look like:
- If it rains tomorrow
- While they were on vacation
- Because she was late
How Do I Compose a Simple Sentence?
A simple sentence should express a complete thought and must have a subject (noun or pronoun) + predicate (verb). Follow these steps to write your own:
1. Choose a Subject
This is the who (subject) or what (object) of your sentence. The subject or object is typically a noun or pronoun. For example, the dog, she, Justin, or pizza.
2. Pick a Predicate
This is a verb that describes what your subject or object is doing in the sentence. For example, runs, jumps, or sings. It may also contain more words to further illustrate the action verb such as runs after the dog, or sings in the school choir. These additional words are considered modifiers and are discussed in more detail below.
3. Put Them Together
Take your subject (i.e. the dog) and combine it with your predicate (i.e. runs) to form the basis of your sentence: “The dog runs.”
4. Add Modifiers (Optional)
As you become more and more comfortable writing simple sentences, you can choose to include more details. But it’s important to remember that to remain a simple sentence, it must have an independent clause. The modifiers that come after the verb would all be included as part of the predicate. Modifiers to a simple sentence can include:
- A Direct Object: The receiver of the action in the sentence.
- Example: The dog chased the ball. (Subject + verb + direct object)
- A Prepositional Phrase: Extra information about where, when, or how something happens.
- Example: The dog ran through the park. (Subject + verb + prepositional phrase)
- Adjectives: Additional words that describe the subject or object.
- Example: This little brown dog is (Adjective + subject + verb)
- Adverbs: Additional words to describe how, when, where, or to what extent the action occurs.
- Example: The dog ran quickly. (Subject + verb + adverb)
- A Compound Subject: More than one subject connected by a conjunction, but there is still only one verb.
- Example: The dog and cat played (Subject + Subject + verb)
- A Compound Verb: More than one verb connected by a conjunction, but the sentence still has only one subject.
- Example: The dog ran and jumped over the fence. (Subject + verb + verb)
How To Avoid Common Mistakes When Writing Simple Sentences
When practicing writing simple sentences, it’s important to double-check that your sentence fits the bill. Use these questions to help you verify your work:
- Is there just one independent clause (a stand-alone thought)?
- Can I spot the subject and predicate?
- Did I avoid conjunctions like “and,” “but,” and “or” to connect multiple ideas?
- Is my sentence free of extra clauses or phrases that could turn it into a compound or complex sentence?
- Does the sentence feel concise without unnecessary detail?
20 Examples of Simple Sentences
Take a look at these simple sentence examples categorized by the four sentence types:
- Declarative: This tells you something and ends with a period.
- Interrogative: This asks something and ends with a question mark.
- Imperative: This tells someone to do something and ends with a period.
- Exclamatory: This shows a strong feeling and ends with an exclamation point.
*Note that as with above, the subject is italicized and the predicate is underlined.
Declarative
- She loves to draw.
- They went to the beach.
- Ben ate the last cookie.
- The cat slept all day.
- Our family moved last year.
Interrogative
- Did you finish your homework?
- Is it raining outside?
- Can they come to the party?
- Have we met before?
- Will she join us for dinner?
Imperative
Note: In each imperative sentence, the subject (you) is understood and implied, even though it isn’t stated explicitly, so the entire sentence is the predicate.
- Close the door.
- Write your name on the paper.
- Read this book by tomorrow.
- Bring your lunch.
- Tell me the answer.
Exclamatory
- Wow, you did an amazing job!
- Oh no, the cat escaped!
- Yay, we won the game!
- Oops, I forgot my keys!
- I can’t believe it!
Simple Sentences vs. Other Sentence Structures
While a simple sentence provides clarity, adding compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences can deepen a text’s meaning. Here’s a breakdown of how each sentence structure can be built up from a simple sentence:
Simple vs. Compound Sentence
Whereas a simple sentence is made up of one independent clause, compound sentences are made up of two that are connected by a conjunction. They do not contain any dependent clauses. Here is how you could build a compound sentence from two simple sentences:
- Simple Sentence Example 1: The sun set. (Independent clause)
- Simple Sentence Example 2: The stars appeared. (Independent clause)
- Compound Sentence: The sun set and the stars appeared. (Independent clause + conjunction + independent clause)
Simple vs. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, which is often introduced by words like because, although, if, when, and while. Alone, a dependent clause won’t make sense and therefore needs an independent clause (or simple sentence) to help it make sense. Here is how you could build a complex sentence when starting from a simple sentence:
Simple Sentence: She smiled. (Independent clause)
Dependent Clause: Because she was happy. (Dependent on independent clause due to lack of subject)
Complex Sentence: She smiled because she was happy. (Independent clause + dependent clause)
Simple vs. Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence combines the features of both compound and complex sentences. It has at least two independent clauses (like in a compound sentence) and at least one dependent clause (like in a complex sentence). Here is an example of how you could build a compound-complex sentence starting from a simple sentence:
Simple Sentence: We went to the store. (Independent clause)
Simple Sentence: We bought cookies. (Independent clause)
Dependent Clause: Although it was late (Dependent on independent clause due to lack of subject)
Compound–Complex Sentence: Although it was late, we went to the store and bought cookies. (Dependent clause + independent clause + conjunction + independent clause [with repetitive subject removed for simplification])
Incorporating Simple Sentences Into Essays and Reports
Using simple sentences in your writing assignments or college application essays can make your work concise and easy to follow. Here are a few tips for how to use them effectively:
- Use simple sentences to make your main ideas stand out—especially after explaining something complex.
- Use simple sentences to break up longer ones and help you avoid run-on sentences.
- When writing persuasive or narrative essays, a simple sentence can add impact.
- Wrap up sections with a simple sentence to reinforce the main idea.
Simple sentences express one clear idea using a subject and predicate. Though they are typically concise, they are impactful—after all, they form the foundation for building more complex or compound structures. When learning to write simple sentences, start with the basics. As you get more comfortable, add more details. By recognizing the power of a well-constructed simple sentence, you’ll be able to enhance your writing and communicate your ideas with clarity.
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