A simple sentence is a fundamental tool of language. Don’t believe me? Each sentence I’ve used so far is a simple sentence.
A simple sentence doesn’t mean a sentence that isn’t complicated. There are many types of simple sentences. The sentence structure has specific qualities which make it simple.
Let’s take a look at what a simple sentence is, what it looks like, and how it’s used.
What is a Simple Sentence Structure Definition?
Define Simple Sentence With Example
They might be simple, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a simple sentence formula. Nailing down the components of a simple sentence is the first step in writing one. So– what is a simple sentence structure?
SENTENCE TYPES SIMPLE
What is a Simple Sentence Structure?
A simple sentence is a type of sentence structure which contains just a single independent clause. An independent clause contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought.
Still unsure what a simple sentence actually is? Let’s look at some simple sentence examples.
What is a simple sentence structure?
Examples of a Simple Sentence Formula
The simple sentence is probably the most common sentence structure. That was one right there. And that was another one. Even the question, “What is a simple sentence structure?” is one. Here’s a few more simple sentence examples:
The movie was a bore.
She felt fine.
The hunter snuck up on the deer.
She couldn’t believe the news.
This is a simple sentence example.
Each of these sentences is simple because it contains one independent clause. Look at each dissected– subject and verb highlighted.
The movie was a bore.
She felt fine.
The hunter snuck up on the deer.
She couldn’t believe the news.
A sentence can be simple in structure without being as brief as these sentences. Take this sentence, for example:
The loss proved to be a shocking and devastating blow to the much-hyped home team.
This sentence might not seem like a simple sentence example, but it is. Let’s look for the subject and verb.
The loss proved to be a shocking and devastating blow to the much-hyped home team.
There’s an “and” in this sentence, which sometimes indicates a compound sentence structure, but the “and” here is just connecting two adjectives. Believe it or not, this sentence is one, albeit long, independent clause.
What is a simple sentence structure?
Simple Sentence Examples in Pop Culture
As you can imagine, there are countless types of simple sentences all over literature, music, film, and so on. Here’s just a few examples of a simple sentence:
“Cannery Row in Monterey in California is a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.” – John Steinbeck, Cannery Row
“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.” – Taylor Swift, “Love Story”
Simple sentence structure examples
“You had me at ‘hello.’” – Jerry Maguire
“Mother died today.” – Albert Camus, The Stranger
Simple sentence structure examples
See? The simple sentence structure in English is everywhere. That was one right there.
Up Next
What are Sentence Structures?
Now you’ve got a lot of examples of a simple sentence. You’re not done yet; there are more types of sentences than simple ones. That was one right there. Check them all out in our general overview of sentence structures.
