Lesson 2.3: Simple Sentences - One Independent Clause

Lesson 2.3: Simple Sentences - One Independent Clause

Simple Sentences: Keeping it Basic and Clear!

A simple sentence is the most basic type of sentence. It's simple because it contains just one independent clause. Remember from Lesson 2.1, a sentence needs a subject and a predicate to express a complete thought. A simple sentence does this in a single clause.

Key Characteristics of a Simple Sentence:

  • One Independent Clause: This is the defining feature! It has one subject and one predicate and expresses a complete thought on its own.
  • Can be Short or Long: Simple sentences can be short and direct, or they can be longer with more details, but they still only have *one* independent clause structure.
  • Expresses One Main Idea: Simple sentences focus on conveying a single main idea.

Let's break down what "independent clause" means again and see examples of simple sentences:

Independent Clause: The Heart of the Simple Sentence

An independent clause is a group of words that:

  • Has a subject.
  • Has a predicate (and therefore a verb).
  • Expresses a complete thought.
  • Can stand alone as a sentence.

Because a simple sentence *is* just one independent clause, it has all these features.

Examples of Simple Sentences - Short and Sweet!

Simple sentences can be very short and to the point:

  • "Birds sing." (Subject: Birds, Predicate: sing. Complete thought.)
  • "Dogs bark." (Subject: Dogs, Predicate: bark. Complete thought.)
  • "I run." (Subject: I, Predicate: run. Complete thought.)
  • "She smiled." (Subject: She, Predicate: smiled. Complete thought.)
  • "Rain fell." (Subject: Rain, Predicate: fell. Complete thought.)

Examples of Simple Sentences - With Added Detail (But Still Simple!)

Simple sentences can also be longer and more descriptive by adding adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, etc., but they remain simple as long as they have only one independent clause structure.

Examples of Longer Simple Sentences (still just one independent clause):

  • "The big brown dog barked loudly at the mailman."
    • Subject: "The big brown dog" (Still one simple subject "dog" with adjectives)
    • Predicate: "barked loudly at the mailman" (Still one simple predicate "barked" with adverbs and prepositional phrase)
  • "Sarah is reading an interesting book in the library."
    • Subject: "Sarah"
    • Predicate: "is reading an interesting book in the library"
  • "They play football in the park every Sunday."
    • Subject: "They"
    • Predicate: "play football in the park every Sunday"
  • "The weather is very beautiful today."
    • Subject: "The weather"
    • Predicate: "is very beautiful today"
  • "My brother likes to cook Italian food for his friends."
    • Subject: "My brother"
    • Predicate: "likes to cook Italian food for his friends"

Simple Sentences are Not Always Short!

It's important to remember that "simple" doesn't mean "short" or "unsophisticated." Simple sentences are the foundation of all writing. They are clear, direct, and effective for conveying information. You can build very descriptive and interesting sentences that are still grammatically simple sentences.

Key takeaway: Simple sentences are built around a single independent clause, containing one subject and one predicate. They express a complete thought in a straightforward way and form the basis for more complex sentence structures. Next, we'll explore Compound Sentences - joining simple sentences together!