Simple Sentence

A. Definition of Simple Sentence

A simple sentence is a sentence that consists of just one independent clause. For
example:
• I know the answer.
• My dog and my cat sleep together on the sofa.

A simple sentence is not always a short, basic sentence like the four examples shown
above. A simple sentence could have a compound subject (i.e., a subject with two or
more simple subjects). For example:
• Jack likes walking.
(This is a simple sentence with one simple subject ("Jack").)
• Jack and Jill like walking.
(This is a simple sentence with a compound subject made up of two simple
subjects ("Jack" and "Jill").)

A simple sentence could also have a compound predicate (when two or more verbs
share the same subject). For example:
• Jack likes fishing.
(This is a simple sentence with a normal predicate, i.e., there's just one main verb
("likes").)
• Jack likes fishing but hates hunting.
(This is a simple sentence with a compound predicate. The subject "Jack" is the
subject of two verbs ("likes" and "hates").)
• Jack likes walking and fishing but hates running and hunting.
(This is still a simple sentence with a compound predicate. The subject "Jack" is
still the subject of two verbs ("likes" and "hates"), but you can see how a simple
sentence could start to get quite busy.)

Here's an example of a simple sentence with a compound subject, a compound

predicate, and direct objects with more than one item.
• Jack and Jill like walking and fishing but hate running and hunting.
(This is still a simple sentence. There are no dependent clauses.)

Here is a real-life example of a busy simple sentence:

• Wolves and European brown bears developed a fear of humans too late and
became extinct in the British wilds and the forests and mountains of Europe in
medieval times.

B. Types of Simple Sentence

There are four types of simple sentences: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and
exclamatory.
• Declarative Sentences
Declarative sentences make statements or declarations. They end with a period.
Example: "They are eating dinner."
• Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative sentences ask questions. They end with a question mark.
Example: "Are you coming to the party?"
• Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences give commands or make requests. They can end with a period or an
exclamation mark.
Example: "Please pass the salt."
• Exclamatory Sentences
Exclamatory sentences express strong emotion. They end with an exclamation mark.
Example: "What a beautiful day!"
C. How to Form Simple Sentence
All of us communicate with the help of language and most often, it is done using
simple sentences. Forming simple sentences is easier than you think. Go through the following
points to find out how you can effortlessly form and use simple sentences.
• A simple sentence should have at least one subject and one predicate.
• A simple sentence can have multiple subjects which can be combined using conjunctions.
They are called compound subjects.
• Likewise, a simple sentence can also have compound predicates. Compound predicates
have two or more verbs but they share the same subject/s.
• A simple sentence does not have a dependent clause or a subordinate clause but just one
independent clause/main clause.
• A simple sentence should express a complete thought.
• A simple sentence can be a declarative sentence, an interrogative sentence or
an exclamatory sentence. So punctuation marks like a full stop, a comma, a question
mark and an exclamation mark can be used in simple sentences.
• A simple sentence can have a sentence structure as short as just an SV, SVO or SVC
pattern and also as long as an ASVIODO, SVIODO or SVAA pattern.
• A simple sentence can have prepositions, adverbs, adjectives, adverb
clauses and prepositional phrases.

D. Exercises
I. Choose the best answer!
1. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, subject, verb pattern (SSV).
a. My friend cooks and eats spaghetti five times a week.
b. We often eat spaghetti or pizza for dinner.
c. Spaghetti and pizza are very tasty at this restaurant.
d. We can have pizza for dinner or cook pasta.
2. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, verb, verb pattern (SVV).
a. My mother baked and sewed in her free time.
b. My mother had three sisters and two brothers.
c. My parents were very happy together for many years.
d. My mother and father had two children.
3. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, verb, verb pattern (SVV).
a. The cakes at this bakery are expensive but delicious.
b. He is a chef and specializes in seafood dishes.
c. She is going to bake a cake or some cookies for her family this afternoon.
d. The blueberry pie and oatmeal cookies were delicious.
4. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, verb, verb pattern (SVV).
a. A student's life is not easy.
b. My oldest daughter is a student and teaches math part-time.
c. My friend's daughter is a nursing student.
d. Being a student can be very stressful at times, especially during final exams.
5. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, verb, verb pattern (SVV).
a. Most of his family live in or near Toronto.
b. He comes from a very large and loving family.
c. He grew up in Vancouver, and later moved to Toronto.
6. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, verb, verb pattern (SVV).
a. Mickey Mouse and Goofy are very popular Disney cartoon characters
b. My favourite Disney animated movie is "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs".
c. He writes and draws comic books for a living.
d. For decades, Archie comic books have been popular in Canada and America.
7. Select the simple sentence which has a subject,verb pattern (SV).
a. Speaking a foreign language can be useful at times.
b. My friends and I like to do the same things.
c. Speaking and writing English are different skills.
8. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, verb, pattern (SV).
a. My wife and I don't like to watch horror movies.
b. My family and I often watch "How-To" shows on television.
c. In my opinion, superhero movies are very popular nowadays.
d. Sitcoms and historical programs are my favourite types of TV shows.
 9. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, subject, verb pattern (SSV).
a. I would like to visit Paris one day.
b. I hope to visit Mexico next year.
c. One day I am going to travel across Canada.
d. Paris and London are popular tourist destinations.
10. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, subject, verb, verb pattern (SSVV).
a. Exercising regularly and eating proper foods keeps people healthy and reduces
the risk of heart attack.
b. These days many young people, particularly junior high students, don't get
enough exercise.
c. Everyone should exercise regularly.
d. Computers and video games are responsible for a fitness problem in young
people.
11. Select the simple sentence which has a subject, subject, verb, verb pattern (SSVV).
a. There are many interesting jobs in the travel industry.
b. Pilots and flight attendants earn good salaries and have interesting jobs.
c. My sister wants to become a flight attendant one day.
d. Flight attendants meet a lot of people and travel to various places.
12. Select the simple sentence which has a subject,subject,verb pattern (SSV).
a. Dogs provide companionship and protect their owners.
b. They want a dog or cat for a pet.
c. Many people keep dogs and cats for companionship or protection.
d. Their dog and cat have become good friends.

II. Write down your own ten simple sentences!

E. References
Simple Sentence: Meaning and Examples. 2023. Accessed on May 2nd, 2024 from:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/simple-sentence/

Simple Sentence. Accessed on May 2nd, 2024 from: https://www.grammar-

monster.com/glossary/simple_sentence.htm

Simple Sentences - Meaning, Definition and How to Use Them with Examples . Accessed on
May 2nd, 2024 from: https://byjus.com/english/simple-sentences/

Simple Sentences . Accessed on May 2nd, 2024 from: https://promova.com/english-

grammar/simple-sentences

Simple Sentences: Definition, Examples, and Exercises . Accessed on May 2nd, 2024 from:
https://www.albert.io/blog/simple-sentences/