Page S3

The first sentence — “I drink coffee” — is a SIMPLE sentence because it contains only one idea.

The second sentence — “I drink coffee because it gives me energy” — is a COMPLEX sentence because it has two ideas, the second idea being an extension that explains the main idea and contains another subject and verb.

When a sentence contains more than one idea expressed by a MAIN VERB, the separate parts are called CLAUSES.  Additional information is also added in the form of PHRASES, which are groups of two or more words that do not contain a main verb.

  The main idea, or MAIN CLAUSE (I drink coffee), is expanded by the second part of the sentence (because it gives me energy), which is connected to the first by a SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION (because)

Next Page