A simple sentece contains one independent clause. What's an independent clause? It's one subject followed by one verb or phrase. It expresses a single idea.
Examples of simple sentences:
I'm happy.
Robert doesn't eat meat.
My brother and I went to the mall last night.
This new laptop computer has already crashed twice.
Notice that a "simple sentences" isn't necessarily short. The subject can be a single word like "I" or "Robert", or ot can be a double subject like "My Brother an I", or it can be multiple words describing a single person/object, like "This new laptop computer".
A compound sentence has two independent clasues joined by a linking word (and, but, or, so, yet, however).
Each independent clause could be a sentence by itslef, but we connect them with a linking word:
I'm happy, but my kids are always complaining.
Robert doesn't eat meat, so Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him.
My Brother and I went to the mall last night, but we didn't buy anything.
This new laptop computer has already crashed twice, and I have no idea why.
Note that each sentence has TWO subjects and TWO verb phrases.
A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
A dependent clause cannot be a complete setence by itself.
I'm happy, even though I don't make much money.
Robert, a friend I've known since highschool, doesn't
eat meat.
My brother an I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and studied.
This new laptop computer, which I bought yesterday, has already crashed twice.
A compound-complex sentence contains 3 or more clauses: 2 independent and at least 1 dependent clause.
I'm happy, even though I don't make much money, but my kids are always complaining since we can't afford to buy the newest toys.
Independent clauses: "I'm happy" and "my kids are always complaining"
Dependent clauses: "even though I don't make much money" and "since we can't afford to buy the newest toys"
Linking word: "but".
Robert, a friend I've known since high school, doesn't eat meat - so Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him.
Independent clauses: "Robert doesn't eat meat" and "Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him"
Dependent clauses: "A friend I've known since high school"
Linking word: "so"
My brother and I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and studied because she has a test coming up.
Independent clauses: "My brother and I went to the mall last noght" and "my sister stayed home and studied"
Dependent clause: "Because she has a test coming up"
Linking word: "while"
The new laptop computer, which I bought yestrday, has already crashed twice; however, I have no idea why.
Independent clauses: "This new laptop comupter has already crashed twice" and "I hve no idea why"
Dependent clause: "which I bought yesterday"
Linking word: "However"
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