##  [Simple sentences](/writing-tips-plus/simple-sentence)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

A simple sentence (or independent clause) is a word group that contains a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought:

- The girls rowed past the dock.

In this example, *girls* is the subject, *rowed* is the verb, and the entire word group forms a complete thought—that is, it makes sense by itself.

## Simple sentence structures

The examples below show the many different structures that can appear in a simple sentence:

- **1 subject, 1 verb:** The *girls rowed* past the dock.
- **2 subjects, 1 verb:** *Sarah* and *Tiffany raised* the sail.
- **1 subject, 2 verbs:** The *wind had fallen* but *was rising* quickly by late afternoon.
- **2 subjects, 2 verbs:** *Gulls* and *terns circled* overhead or *floated* on the water.
- **Verb before subject for effect:** Across the waves to the island *sped* the *boat*.
- **Verb before subject in a question:** *Was* the *island* inhabited?
- **Verb before and after subject in a question:** *Had anyone gone* there before?
- ***There* + verb before subject:** There *are* no *people* on the island.
- ***Here* + verb before subject:** Here *is* a small *harbour*.
- **Command verb with subject *you* omitted:** *Lower* the sail. *Row* to shore.

## Use

Simple sentences are grammatically correct, but too many can make your writing less interesting. Use them sparingly, therefore.

A few well-placed simple sentences can create a stylistic effect when combined with longer compound and complex sentences. In the following passage, the two simple sentences at the end emphasize the speed of events and the sudden danger:

- The storm broke with a fury before they could reach shelter. Slipping and stumbling on the muddy ground, they dragged the canoe farther up the shore; then, wet and exhausted, they battled their way to the cabin. Suddenly, lightning struck. The roof was on fire!

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## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)