Simple Sentences in English: 50 Examples

A simple sentence contains one independent clause.

What’s an “independent clause”?

It’s one subject followed by one verb or verb phrase. It expresses a single idea.

• Learn more about simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
• Learn Basic & Intermediate English Grammar

Let’s look at 50 simple sentence examples in different English verb tenses.

Simple sentences in the Present Simple Tense

The subject of the sentence is in blue .

The verb of the sentence is in red .

You can see that simple sentences can contain other words, such as:

• a direct object (“eat dinner” – dinner is the direct object)
• a prepositional phrase (“at 8:00”)
• adjectives (“little black dress” – little and black are adjectives)
• adverbs (“loudly”)

The important thing is that there’s only ONE subject and ONE verb or verb phrase (this could be a helping verb + main verb, for example “don’t speak” and “doesn’t like”).

Simple sentences in the Past Simple Tense

1. Iwent to the store.
2. Shetook the test last Friday.
3. Wetalked for hours.
4. The little girlplayed at the playground.
5. Hehad a great time yesterday.
6. Ididn’t know about the meeting.
7. Hedidn’t take a shower.
8. My friend and Ididn’t buy anything on our trip.
9. Wedidn’t have enough food for everyone.
10. Racheldidn’t tell anyone the secret.

Simple sentences in the Future Simple Tense

1. Iwill visit my parents next weekend.
2. She‘ll finish her project by tomorrow.
3. Theywill go on vacation next month.
4. We‘ll have dinner at a fancy restaurant tonight.
5. Hewill start his new job next week.
6. Iwon’t attend the party tomorrow.
7. Shewon’t buy a new car this year.
8. Theywill not complete the assignment on time.
9. Wewon’t go to the concert on Saturday.
10. Hewill not pass the exam without studying.

Simple sentences in the Present Continuous Tense

1. Iam currently working on a new project.
2. Sheis dancing gracefully on stage.
3. Theyare enjoying their vacation in Hawaii.
4. Weare learning to play the guitar.
5. Heis studying for his upcoming exams.
6. I ‘m not feeling well today.
7. Sheisn’t attending the party tonight.
8. They ‘re not participating in the competition.
9. Wearen’t going out for dinner this evening.
10. He ‘s not wearing a jacket despite the cold weather.

Simple sentences in the Past Continuous Tense

1. Iwas watching a movie last night.
2. Shewas singing loudly during the concert.
3. Theywere playing soccer yesterday.
4. Wewere having dinner at a fancy restaurant.
5. Hewas studying hard for his final exams.
6. Iwasn’t paying attention to the lecture.
7. Shewas not watching her kids at the park.
8. Theywere not listening to the teacher’s instructions.
9. Weweren’t traveling over spring break.
10. Hewas not feeling well yesterday.

Simple sentences in the Future Continuous Tense

1. I‘ll be giving a presentation at the conference.
2. Shewill be traveling to Europe next month.
3. They‘ll be celebrating their anniversary on a cruise.
4. Wewill be taking our son to college in September.
5. He‘ll be working on a new project next week.
6. Iwill not be attending the party tonight.
7. Shewill not be participating in the competition.
8. Theywon’t be going on a vacation this summer.
9. Wewon’t be looking for new jobs anytime soon.
10. Hewon’t be taking so many classes next semester.

Simple sentences in the Present Perfect Tense

1. I ‘ve finished reading the book.
2. Shehas traveled to many countries.
3. They ‘ve won the championship.
4. Wehave completed the project on time.
5. He ‘s learned to play the piano.
6. Ihaven’t visited that museum yet.
7. Shehas not received the package.
8. Theyhave not finished their homework.
9. Wehaven’t seen that movie.
10. Hehasn’t achieved his goal.

Now you know how to form simple sentences in various verb tenses! Try writing your own simple sentence examples to help you remember this sentence structure. Next, learn about compound sentences and complex sentences.