Grammar: Compound vs. Complex Sentences

Independent Clause

expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. Has both a subject and a verb.

Compound

The magician pulled a rabbit from his hat, but the audience did not applaud.

Dependent Clause

A clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and that functions within the sentence as a noun or adjective or adverb

Complex Sentence (more specific than Compound Sentences)

A sentence with one independent clause and at least one or more dependent clauses -dep. clause: begin with subordinating clauses ex. after, although, as, before, become, even though, if, since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, wherever, while (come before or after the indp. clause)

Compound Sentence

A sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions.

Complex

After he got home, my father read us a story.

Compound

Kerry called the fire department, and they arrived very quick

Complex

The baby elephant followed its mother because the lion was very close.

Complex

We couldn't go to the beach because the car broke down.

Compound-Complex Sentence

at least one dependent clause and two or more independent clauses

Simple Sentence

contains one subject and one predicate (one independent sentence)