How to identify simple, compound and complex sentences

As part of the series on how to pass Functional Skills English Level 2, we will look at sentences.

One of the assessment criteria is to ‘use complex sentences correctly.’

To pass Level 2 writing, students must be able to use complex sentences correctly. This does not mean that you will not be allowed to use simple and compound sentences. Naturally, at this level, you will be using a combination of all three sentence types. However, to use complex sentences, in addition to simple and compound, means that your writing is progressing to a more advanced level.

What’s the difference between simple, compound and complex sentences?

First of all, we need to know what a sentence is.  

What is a sentence?

A sentence is a group of words, which makes a clause. This clause should contain a subject and a verb.

The subject is a pronoun or noun that completes the action or state of being in a sentence.

Example: Dogs eat.

Dogs = the subject; it is the thing doing the action in the sentence, which is eat.

Bark is the verb; it is the action which is being performed by the dog.

 A basic clause should contain a subject and a verb, but sometimes a clause contains an object.

Example: Dogs eat meat.

The object is the noun or pronoun which receives the action of the verb.

Meat is the object receiving the action.

For a clause to be considered a sentence, it must contain the following elements:

1)      a subject

2)      a verb

3)      make complete sense

4)      express one thought or idea.

 Example: Rain falls.

This type of sentence is called a simple sentence because it contains the following:

•    It expresses one complete statement

•    It has a subject: rain

•    It has a verb: falls

•    It makes sense

Simple sentences can be extended to describe, modify or clarify the subject and verb in the sentence.

Example: Rain falls heavily in the summer.

Even though more words have been added to the sentence, it is still a simple sentence because it contains one subject and verb and expresses one statement.

What is a compound sentence?

A compound sentence consists of two clauses joined together with a coordinating conjunction.

Example:

He is sleeping.

She is reading a book.

He is sleeping, and she is reading a book.

The coordinating conjunction is ‘and’.  Coordinating conjunctions are of equal status in that one clause does not have the function of describing, qualifying or modifying the main clause because both clauses or all clauses are of equal status. They can stand alone independently.

Coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

FANBOYS.

When you use any of these coordinating conjunctions, a comma should go before the conjunction.

What is a complex sentence?

Complex sentences are formed with two or more clauses. One is a main clause, and the other is a subordinate clause, which starts with a subordinating conjunction.

All clauses contain a subject and a verb, but there are two types of clauses: a main (independent) clause and a subordinate (dependent) clause.

A main clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete statement.

Subordinate clauses, on the other hand, contain a subject and a verb, but do not make complete statements because of the words they begin with, which are called subordinating conjunctions.

Here is a list of some subordinate conjunctions:

subordinating conjunctions for complex sentences

The main clause is the part of the sentence that is complete and can stand alone.

The subordinate clause is the part of the sentence which cannot stand alone and needs to be added to the main clause to make sense.

A subordinate clause is introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as the ones above in the table.

Example:

Main clause: I’m still hungry.

Subordinate clause: although I had lunch.

I’m still hungry although I had lunch.

Although I had lunch, I’m still hungry.

Notice that we place the comma after the subordinate clause if it precedes the main clause of the sentence as in the second sentence.

It is important that you use a range of sentences in your writing: simple, compound and complex sentences.

Download the worksheet on simple, compound and complex sentences.