Types of Sentences

There are four different types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence has one main clause. That means it has one subject and one verb. In addition, a simple sentence can have adjectives and adverbs. Note that a simple sentence can't have another main clause or any subordinate clauses.

Example are given below.

Man is mortal.
Alice is a beautiful girl.
I have two kids.

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence consists of two or more main clauses. The clauses can be joined with a coordinating conjunction (e.g. for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon (;). As with a simple sentence, a compound sentence can't have any subordinate clauses.

Mike smokes but Peter doesn't.
Alice wrote the letters and Peter posted them.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence contains one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. These sentences use subordinating conjunctions to link ideas.

Parallel lines never meet (main) until (subordinating conjunction) you bend one of them (subordinate clause).
Alice said (main clause) that she would come (subordinate clause).
You may stay (main clause) as long as you want (subordinate clause).
Will you wait (main clause) till I return (subordinate clause)?
If you eat too much (subordinate clause) you will fall ill (main clause).

Compound-Complex Sentences

A compound-complex sentence has at least two main clauses and at least one subordinating clause. The dependent clause can be part of the independent clause.

After she left university (subordinate), Alice moved to London (main) and her boyfriend followed her (main).

Sections in this article

Sentence agreement
Sentence agreement: plural subjects
Sentence agreement: collective nouns
Sentence agreement: indefinite pronouns

More CBSE English Grammar worksheets

Passive voice worksheet | Simple past tense
Passive voice worksheet | Past continuous tense
Passive voice worksheet | Simple future tense
Passive voice worksheet | Future perfect tense