The Simple Sentence
Learn About ItA simple sentence contains only one independent clause.This means that it doesn't contain more than one independent clause, and it certainly doesn't contain a subordinate clause. It only expresses one main idea and has only one subject and verb. | NOT Simple- More Than One Main Idea | Simple |
|---|
| I love kumquats, and you love bananas. | I love kumquats. | | Although she hates lemons, Maria loves limes. | Maria loves limes. | | Maria served punch because it is delicious, and it contains lime juice. | Maria served punch. |
Compound ElementsParts of a sentence may be compound, but, as long as there is only one subject and verb, the sentence is still classified as simple. Remember that compound means more than one. | Compound Element | Still Simple? Yes! | | Subject | Marshall and Allie play basketball. | | Verb | The players dribbled and shot the basketball. | | Direct Object | The team won the game and the tournament. | | Predicate Adjective | They felt happy and elated. | | Object of the Preposition | The team ate at Dairy Queen and McDonalds. |
Diagramming the Simple SentenceSometimes seeing what something isn't can help us figure out what something is. Check out what compound sentences look like when diagrammed, and it may help clarify the simple ones for you. This is how to diagram any sentence classified as simple. The sentence will only have one subject and verb. Example Sentences: Maria loves limes.
Compound Subject: Marshall and Allie play basketball.
Compound Verb: The players dribbled and shot the basketball.
Understand the simple sentence? Learn about other sentence structures. Back to Sentence Diagramming IndexBack to English Grammar Home Page
Have Fun & Learn Grammar Now!Learn Grammar the Easy Way: Diagramming Sentences 

|