Simple Sentences

The most basic simple sentence contains only one subject and one verb. For example, in the sentence,

I like watching movies in my free time.

the subject is I and the verb is like.

Simple sentences containing only one subject verb combination are actually very rare in everyday English. As your English improves, you will want to start using sentences that are more complex and varied. To make your writing more interesting, you should try to use the following sentence constructions.

Note: The subjects are in bold type and the verbs are bold and underlined.

1. Two subjects and one verb (SSV)- compound subject and simple verb
   My friend and I went shopping yesterday.



2. One subject and two verbs (SVV)- simple subject and compound verb
   My wife has a good job and makes a lot of money.



3. Two subjects and two verbs (SSVV)- compound subject and compound verb
   Jim and Micheal like playing computer games and watching videos.

Structure

The simple sentences in examples 1, 2, and 3 above where created by joining two or more simple sentences together. In example number 1, My friend and I went shopping yesterday., there are two subjects and one verb.

My friend went shopping yesterday. (Subject My friend + verb went + shopping yesterday.)
I went shopping yesterday. (Subject I + verb went + shopping yesterday.)

Notice that the verb went and shopping yesterday are in both sentences. When the two sentences are joined, went shopping yesterday only needs to be written once. By joining the two subjects and adding the verb went and shopping yesterday, we create the sentence, My friend and I went shopping yesterday.

Joining Simple Sentences

The sentences in this section were created from simple sentences with common subjects, common objects, or both common subjects and common objects using the conjunctions and and or. To join sentences using other conjunctions you should study the sections on complex and compound sentences.

The words used to connect simple sentences like those in this section are called conjunctions. The two most common conjunctions used to join simple sentences are and and or.

And is used to connect simple sentences that are positive.

I like swimming.
I like water skiing.

I like swimming and water skiing.

Or is used to connect simple sentences that are negative.

I don't like football.
I don't like basketball.

I don't like football or basketball.

Or is also used to connect two or more alternatives or choices. This construction is normally used in questions.

Do you want to go out tonight?
Do you want to stay home tonight?

Do you want to go out or stay home tonight?

Practice

Part A. Read the sentences below. What is the structure of each sentence? Write each sentence on a piece of paper and then write its structure next to the sentence. Each sentence will be either simple subject - simple verb (SV), compound subject and simple verb (SSV), simple subject and compound verb (SVV), or compound subject and compound verb (SSVV). When you are finished, check your answers by clicking on the sentence.

1. I can say hello in five languages.
2. My brother and his friend play hockey together.
3. In his free time, Jim likes running and enjoys playing tennis.
4. Mary and Jane went to dinner and saw a movie last night.

Part B. On a piece of paper, join the following simple sentences using either and or or. To check your answers, click on the first sentence.

1. Should we go see a movie? Should we go see a play?
2. I didn't go to history class today. I didn't go to geometry class today.
3. Bruce Willis starred in the movie we saw last night. Meg Ryan starred in the movie we saw last night.
4. Bob likes to exercise and works out often. Jim likes to exercise and works out often.

Now take the quiz.