Simple
Simple sentences are composed of single independent clauses.
- 1 subject, 1 predicate- I eat melons.
- 2 subject, 1 predicate- Jim and I eat melons.
- 1 subject, 2 predicate- I eat melons and drink fruit punch.
- 2 subject, 2 predicate- Jim and I eat melons and drink fruit punch.
Compound
Complex sentences use two independent clauses separated by either a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction (F.A.N.B.O.Y.S) followed by a comma.
- Jim eats melons, and I drink fruit punch.
- Jim eats melons; I drink fruit punch.
Complex
Complex sentences have 1 independent clause and 1 or more dependent clauses.
- Jim eats melons because he can.
- Down by the bay, I drank fruit punch.
- Down by the bay, Jim ate melons because he could.
Compound Complex
Compound complex sentences have 2 independent clauses and 1 or more dependent clauses.
- Jim ate melons, and I drank fruit punch because we enjoyed each other's company.
- During the day, Jim ate melons, and I drank fruit punch.