2.2.1

Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

Test yourself on Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

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Simple Sentences

To create exciting writing, we need to use different types of sentences. A simple sentence is a sentence that has only 1 clause. Here are some simple sentences...

<b>The dog ate the treat.

The dog ate the treat.

  • This is a simple sentence because it only contains a subject ('the dog'), a verb ('ate') and an object ('the treat').
<b>The boy read the book.

The boy read the book.

  • This is a simple sentence because it only contains a subject ('the boy'), a verb ('read') and an object ('the book').
<b>The frog wore a crown.

The frog wore a crown.

  • This is a simple sentence because it only contains a subject ('the frog'), a verb ('wore') and an object ('a crown').
<b>The horses galloped.

The horses galloped.

  • This is a simple sentence because it only contains a subject ('the horses') and a verb ('galloped').
  • Sometimes, a simple sentence doesn't even have an object.
<b>My mother bought an ice cream.

My mother bought an ice cream.

  • This is a simple sentence because it only contains a subject ('my mother'), a verb ('bought') and an object ('an ice cream').
<b>The cake had candles.

The cake had candles.

  • This is a simple sentence because it only contains a subject ('the cake'), a verb ('had') and an object ('candles').

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence has 2, or sometimes even more than 2 clauses joined together by a joining word. The different clauses in compound sentences always make sense on their own. They are called independent clauses. Let's look at some examples...

Compound sentence using '__but__'

Compound sentence using 'but'

  • The dog ate the food but the dog did not like the food.
    • This is a compound sentence because the two clauses either side of the 'but' make sense as sentences by themselves.
Compound sentence using '__and__'

Compound sentence using 'and'

  • The boy liked his bike and the boy liked his helmet.
    • This is a compound sentence because the two clauses either side of the 'and' make sense as sentences by themselves.
Compound sentence using '__or__'

Compound sentence using 'or'

  • I want to go to the cinema or I want to go home.
    • This is a compound sentence because the two clauses either side of the 'or' make sense as sentences by themselves.
Compound sentence using '__so__'

Compound sentence using 'so'

  • I walked my dog so I am tired.
    • This is a compound sentence because the two clauses either side of the 'or' make sense as sentences by themselves.
Compound sentence using '__yet__'

Compound sentence using 'yet'

  • I washed my hair yet my hair still feels greasy!
    • This is a compound sentence because the two clauses either side of the 'yet' make sense as sentences by themselves.
Compound sentence using '__for__'

Compound sentence using 'for'

  • I got into bed, for it was bedtime.
    • This is a compound sentence because the two clauses either side of the 'for' make sense as sentences by themselves.
Jump to other topics
1

Reading

1.1

Root Words

1.1.1Understanding New Words1.1.2Exception Words
1.2

Prefixes

1.2.1'Anti-' & 'Auto-'1.2.2Not & 'Inter-'1.2.3'Mis-', 'Dis-' & 'Re-'1.2.4'Sub-' & 'Super-'1.2.5End of Topic Test - Root Words & Prefixes
1.3

Suffixes

1.3.1Vowel Suffixes1.3.2Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.3Rules for Suffixes: '-ous'1.3.4Testing - Rules for Suffixes1.3.5Suffixes: '-ly'1.3.6Suffixes: '-ation'1.3.7Rules for Suffixes: '-ation'1.3.8Spelling: '-tion' Endings1.3.9Spelling: '-sion' Endings1.3.10Spelling: '-ssion' Endings1.3.11Spelling: '-cian' Endings1.3.12End of Topic Test - Suffixes
2

Writing

2.1

Composition

2.1.1Effective Writing2.1.2Planning2.1.3Drafting2.1.4Editing2.1.5End of Topic Test - Writing Composition
2.2

Conjunctions

2.2.1Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences2.2.2Complex Sentences2.2.3Coordinating Conjunctions2.2.4Subordinating Conjunctions2.2.5End of Topic Test - Conjunctions
2.3

Present Perfect Tense

2.3.1Present Perfect Tense2.3.2Uses of the Present Perfect Tense
2.4

Nouns

2.4.1Using Nouns & Pronouns Properly2.4.2End of Topic Test - Present Perfect & Nouns
2.5

Fronted Adverbials

2.5.1Saying Where, When & How Often2.5.2Saying How & Why2.5.3Using Commas
2.6

Direct Speech

2.6.1Direct Speech2.6.2End of Topic Test - Fronted Adverbials & Speech
2.7

Homophones

2.7.1Accept & Except2.7.2Affect & Effect2.7.3Ball & Bawl2.7.4Berry & Bury2.7.5Brake & Break2.7.6Fair & Fare2.7.7Grate & Great2.7.8Groan & Grown2.7.9Hear & Here2.7.10Heal, Heel & He'll2.7.11Knot & Not2.7.12Mail & Male2.7.13Main & Mane2.7.14Meat & Meet2.7.15Medal & Meddle2.7.16Missed & Mist2.7.17Peace & Piece2.7.18Plain & Plane2.7.19Rain & Reign & Rein2.7.20Scene & Seen2.7.21Weather & Whether2.7.22Whose & Who's2.7.23End of Topic Test - Homophones
2.8

Spelling Rules

2.8.1Hard 'U' & 'I' Sounds2.8.2Words Ending in '-Sure', '-Mure' & '-Sion'2.8.3'Ei', 'Eigh' & 'Ey' Spellings2.8.4Words Ending in 'G' & 'K' Sounds2.8.5Spelling Words with 'Ch' & 'Sc'2.8.6Silent Letters2.8.7End of Topic Test - Spelling Rules
2.9

Using Apostrophes

2.9.1Using Apostrophes with Regular Plurals2.9.2Using Apostrophes with Irregular Plurals
2.10

Using a Dictionary

2.10.1Using a Dictionary2.10.2End of Topic Test - Apostrophes & Dictionaries

Practice questions on Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which sentence is a simple sentence?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    How many clauses does a __simple sentence__ have?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of these are simple sentences?True / false
  4. 4
    Which of these is a simple sentence?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What does a __compound sentence__ have at least 2 of?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Simple Sentences & Compound Sentences

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End of Topic Test - Writing Composition

Complex Sentences