Nguyen Nhut Minh, M.A. S.S.B. Prac.

SIMPLE SENTENCE

A simple sentence has the most basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a
verb, and a completed thought.

Examples of simple sentences include the following:

1. Joe waited for the train.

"Joe" = subject, "waited" = verb
 
2. The train was late.
"The train" = subject, "was" = verb
 
3. Mary and Samantha took the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "took" = verb
 
4. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station.
"I" = subject, "looked" = verb
 
5. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon
for the bus.
"Mary and Samantha" = compound subject, "arrived" and "waited" =
compound verb  

The use of compound subjects, compound verbs, prepositional phrases (such as "at

the bus station"), and other elements help lengthen simple sentences, but simple
sentences often are short. The use of too many simple sentences can make writing
"choppy" and can prevent the writing from flowing smoothly.  

A simple sentence can also be referred to as an independent clause. It is referred

to as "independent" because, while it might be part of a compound or complex
sentence, it can also stand by itself as a complete sentence.

Present Simple

Affirmative (+): S + Vo/-s/-es (V-es: -O, -S, -Z, -CH, -X, -SH)

Negative (-): S + do/does + not + Vo

Interrogative: (Wh-word) + do/does + S + Vo?

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Nguyen Nhut Minh, M.A. S.S.B. Prac.

SIMPLE SENTENCE BUILDING PRACTICE

Rearrange these words to make meaningful sentences.
1. house / a / Minh /small / lives / in /.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
2. after / plays / badminton / Paul / usually /work.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
3. post office / on / isn’t / The / Sunday / open.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
4. with / Would / to / like / you / go / to / the movie theater / me?
=> ……………………………………………………………………
5. are / students / How many / classroom / your / there / in?
=> ……………………………………………………………………
6. sister / listens / music / to / My / every morning.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
7. is / in / She / right / writing / book / her / now.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
8. very/ It/ and/ is/ hungry/ I’m/ 8p.m.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
9. and/ the/ thirsty/ after/ feel/ game/ tired/ I.
=> ……………………………………………………………………
10. water/ isn’t/ here/ there/ any.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

11. school/ are/ and/ we/ for/ seven thirty/ late/ It’s.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

12. time/ father/ get up/ your/ What/ does/?

=> ……………………………………………………………………

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Nguyen Nhut Minh, M.A. S.S.B. Prac.

13. live/to/ in the city/ in the countryside/ you/ or/ Do/ like?
=> ……………………………………………………………………
14. dressed/ brushes/ and/ He/ his/ then/ gets/ teeth.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

15. housework/ Lan/ school/ after/ does/ the.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

16. evening/ watches/ Nam/ and/ in/ listens/ TV/ to/ the/ music.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

17. a / plays / badminton / Tony / week / twice.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

18. like / the / weather / fall/ What / is / the / in?

=> ……………………………………………………………………

19. hot / when / I/ go swimming / it / is.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

20. camping / often / do / How / you / go?

=> ……………………………………………………………………

21. well/ front / There / is / a / my house / of / big / in.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

22. our / is / rice / There / a / behind / house / paddy.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

23. right / trees / the / to / There / my / of / house / are.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

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Nguyen Nhut Minh, M.A. S.S.B. Prac.

24. There / beautiful garden / left / Ba’s house / a / to / is / the / of.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

25. work / to / city / your / in / How / people / do / travel?

=> ……………………………………………………………………

26. There / beautiful gardens / left / Sue’s house / a / to / are / the / of.

=> ……………………………………………………………………

27. work / to / city / your / in / How / parents / do / travel?

=> ……………………………………………………………………