Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences
I was happy, because I was always loved and respected.
Compound
I went back to class, but I could not remember the song we were singing.
Compound
My mouth was full, so I stretched out my arm.
Compound
They are detrimental to the revolution, so we must oppose them resolutely.
Compound
We were having music class, but we couldn't keep our minds on the teacher's directions.
Compound
Although the boy tried twice, the girl waved her scissors with unconcealed delight, and she deftly cut the man's pants leg open.
Compound-complex
As it turned out, I came down with a fever, so I stayed home for ten days.
Compound-complex
I recognized Wang Qi, and I knew Xiao-fan, though I didn't know the other boy.
Compound-complex
Jia Hong was famous all over the district, because she had led a group of Red Guards on a fifteen-day march into the countryside to spread word the Cultural Revolution, and none of the boys had been able to outwalk her.
Compound-complex
A few times he bit his lips.
Simple
At first I couldn't answer.
Simple
Classes had started again.
Simple
I was born on Chinese New Year.
Simple
One after another they continued to criticize me.
Simple
Our apartment was bright, warm, and welcoming.
Simple
Our beloved Chairman Mao had started the Cultural Revolution in May.
Simple
The guilty person was a handsome man in his early thirties.
Simple
The office door was heavy.
Simple
We dropped our books and rushed out with her.
Simple
We graduated.
Simple
What's that?
Simple
An independent clause can best be described as...
a clause that could stand on its own as a complete sentence.
A dependent clause can be best described as...
a clause that needs to be linked to another type of clause to be complete
A compound-complex sentence has...
at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
A compound sentence has...
at least two independent clauses and no dependent clauses
Someone told me that the principal wanted to see me.
Complex
The man kept arching his foot, as if the pebbles on the sidewalk hurt him.
Complex
They hoped that I would be the happiest girl in the world.
Complex
When she finished, she spoke quietly with Principal Long.
Complex
When the Liberation Army woman saw my back bend, she just loved it.
Complex
Many of the original inhabitants still lived there, although now each building was shared by several families. Many of the original inhabitants still lived there, although now each building was shared by several families.
Complex
Principal Long told us that it would be competitive.
Complex
As the match flared, I saw Du Hai sitting in rapt attention.
Complex
Like a tree with only one trunk
Fragment (incomplete)
With many pauses.
Fragment (incomplete)
A complex sentence has...
one independent clause and at least one dependent clause
A simple sentence has...
one independent clause and no dependent clauses
