Simple and compound sentences: what they are, types and examples.

A simple sentence it is an understandable grammatical structure, in which a single verb intervenes. It consists of a subject and a predicate, although there are cases in which the subject is implied or elliptical, that is, it is omitted.

A compound sentence is one in which several verbs participate, giving rise to a set of sentences or propositions. These sentences are related to each other in three possible ways: coordination, subordination and juxtaposition.

Below we will study in detail each category, its different types and examples.

simple sentence

The simple sentence consists of a noun phrase, which performs the function of subject, and a verb phrase, which works like predicate.

The boy sings in a choir.

The boy (noun phrase, subject) /sing in a choir (verb phrase, predicate).

The head of the subject can be a noun (little boy) which can be accompanied by other complements such as determiners (The) or adjectives. The subject is the one who performs the verbal action and, therefore, must agree with the verb in person and number.

The boy sings in a choir (same grammatical person and same number: agreement)

The boy you sing in a choir (different grammatical person and different number: there is no agreement). This sentence is NOT correct.

The core of the verb phrase or predicate is the verb (sings), which can also be accompanied by other complements, such as direct, indirect or circumstantial complements (in a chorus).

Sometimes a single word makes up a simple sentence. Llover, being an impersonal verb, does not have a subject, nor does it need other complements to acquire full meaning.

It's raining.

The following example is a simple sentence consisting of a subject and a predicate.

The order arrives tomorrow.

types of simple sentences

Copulative sentences: they are sentences built with linking verbs (to be, to be or to seem), which need an attribute for the sentence to make sense. The predicate of this type of sentence is known as nominal predicate.

Grandpa looks tired.

The night is beautiful.

predicative sentences: they are sentences whose verbs are predicative, that is, they do not need a copula or attribute to make sense. Instead they can have a direct, indirect, prepositional object, etc.

Sandra and I eat fruit every day.

Yesterday I saw a shooting star.

impersonal sentences: are sentences whose verb does not require a subject or is simply not expressed in the sentence. This happens, for example, with verbs of atmospheric phenomena.

Tomorrow will snow.

Bright room for rent.

Declarative sentences: declarative sentences convey information and can be affirmative or negative.

Rebeca passed all the subjects.

My cousin won't come to the movies.

Exclamation sentences: they are sentences that serve to express feelings or impressions, such as joy, fear, anger, etc.

I have passed the driver's license!

Don't cross the street!

Interrogative sentences: used to ask questions.

Where is Lydia?

Bring me the bill?

wishive sentences: they serve to express a will or desire.

I hope you come back soon.

They give you many things.

hesitant sentences: are sentences that express doubt, indecision.

Maybe I'll go on Sunday.

You probably don't remember anymore.

exhortative sentences: are sentences used to request something from someone or give an order.

Give me more ice, please.

Gentlemen, keep quiet.

simple sentence examples

1. The food was very light.
2. I'll buy the tickets this afternoon.
3. Come to the party?
4. I need a red pen.
5. Marisa sewed that dress.
6. Children do not know the periodic table.
7. The album comes out this Friday.
8. His eyes look like sapphires.
9. We are fed up with this situation.
10. Roberto does not want surprises.
11. How scary is that movie!
12. Maybe he can go on the trip.
13. The doctor has the results.
14. The math is exact.
15. Next summer I will go to Menorca.

Compound sentence

The compound sentence has several verbs in its structure, and each verb may have its own subject, as in this example:

Your father and I don't want you to be sad

In the first verb (we want), the subject is multiple (Tyour father and me), in the second verb (be) the subject is omitted (it would be your, second person singular).

Within the same sentence, therefore, two sentences or propositions are combined. These propositions can have the same syntactic value and maintain a coordination or juxtaposition relationship.

In other cases, one proposition prevails over the other, this means that one proposition is main and the other is subordinate, since it needs to rely on the first to make sense.

types of compound sentences

Coordinate sentences

They are sentences whose propositions have the same syntactic range and are joined by a conjunction. Coordinated sentences can be copulative, disjunctive, adversative, or explanatory.

• copulative: propositions are joined by a copulative conjunction, usually Y.

The dog barks Y The cat meows.

• dilemma: a disjunctive conjunction unites both propositions. The most common is either.

are you coming now either are you leaving?

• adversative: both statements are linked by an adversative conjunction, in this case but.

The experience was hard but The effort was worth it.

• explanatory: propositions are linked through explanatory links, such as namely,that is, I mean, etc.

At that temperature the water solidifies, namely, turns into ice.

Juxtaposed sentences

In juxtaposed sentences, the propositions do not maintain a dependency relationship and are joined by a punctuation mark, such as a comma.

Tomorrow is party, it is not worked.

I'm thirsty, I go for water.

Subordinate clauses

One of the propositions depends on the other, that is, there is a main proposition on which another subordinate proposition rests. The union of both statements is done through a link, generally used that.

Depending on the function they perform, subordinate clauses can be adjectives, nouns or adverbials. This means that the entire sentence could be replaced by an adjective, a noun, or an adverb.

• adjective

The man that hello is my father.

The subordinate clause (who greets) could be replaced by an adjective and the sentence would still make sense.

The man blond he is my father.

• noun

I love that you get along so well

The subordinate clause (that you get along so well) can be substituted for a noun.

I love your friendship

• Adverbial

That morning the bus was going as if it were going to put out a fire.

The subordinate clause (as if to put out a fire) can be replaced by an adverb.

That morning the bus was going fast.

Examples of compound sentences

1. I'm not going because I don't want to.
2. The lady I introduced you to yesterday is my neighbor.
3. Everyone thinks it's a lie.
4. The phone you gave me doesn't exist.
5. Ángela has a car, but she never uses it.
6. It's amazing that they never coincided!
7. Lidia dances classical dance and Irene plays the piano.
8. We will ask to be seated at the window.
9. Ricardo comes fuming.
10. My goal is for Pedro to play in the final of the tournament.
11. Are we going to the beach or do you prefer a pool?
12. The newspaper says that prices will drop tomorrow.
13. It's very foggy, turn on the lights.
14. At this rate we neither eat nor dine.
15. I called on Friday, got no answer.

References:

• Calve, J. m. g. (1993). the plain sentence (Vol. 7). Arc books.
• Campos, h. (1993). From the simple sentence to the compound sentence: superior course of Spanish grammar. Georgetown University Press.
• Gili Gaya, S. (1973). Superior course of Spanish syntax. Bibliograph.

See also:

• language types.
• verse and stanza.