simple sentence
2
2.6
- noun
- /ˈsɪmpl ˈsɛntəns/
- Specialized
:
oración simple
- A simple sentence contains only one independent clause and no additional clauses.
- Use simple sentences
- one simple sentence
- short simple sentences
So these are some very complex things that we're thinking about here that are packed into this very simple sentence.
- So these are some very complex things that we're thinking about here that are packed into this very simple sentence.
Examples
-
Simple sentences need only one ending punctuation mark (e.g., "He ran.").
Academic text (2002) -
The Writing Fluency subtest measures skill in writing simple sentences quickly within 7 minutes.
Academic text (2013) -
Your first book, The Art of the Deal, begins with a simple sentence that many people might find hard to understand.
-
Use simple sentences, no longer than 20 words, as a rule.
Academic text (2010) -
One individual was able to interpret all 10 simple sentences without error.
Academic text (1994) -
Even college students tend to write in short, simple sentences for their math teachers.
Academic text (1991) -
Generally, instruction in writing begins with letters and letter shapes, progresses to words, and then to simple sentences.
Academic text (2002) -
On the second day, we progressed to simple sentences—
Fiction book (1997) -
Further, only one communication strategy—the use of simple sentences—correlated with disease severity.
Academic text (2012) -
Simple sentences were counted according to the definition found in Howell and Memering (1986): "A simple sentence is one independent clause."
Academic text (2002)
Synonyms
1
4.0
A part of a sentence that can stand alone and give a complete idea
How Complex
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'simple' (not complex/minimal) modifying 'sentence' (a grammatical unit), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a non-complex sentence (one clause, no subordination). This adjective+noun combination follows regular semantic composition and is cross-linguistically common, making it immediately understandable.
Etymology
Simple sentence comes from the idea that simple means 'single' and sentence means a complete thought. So think of one building block that stands alone: a simple sentence is a sentence with just 'one clause' or 'one idea'.