Which of the following describes a simple sentence?

Which of the following describes a simple sentence?

• A. Contains multiple clauses
• B. Contains only one independent clause
• C. Contains a subject but no verb
• D. Contains both a dependent and independent clause

Answer: (B)

A simple sentence is defined as a sentence that consists of one independent clause, which means it contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. This structure allows the sentence to stand alone without additional clauses. In contrast, options that suggest multiple clauses (like option A), a subject without a verb (like option C), or a combination of dependent and independent clauses (like option D) describe other types of sentence structures—specifically, compound and complex sentences. Therefore, the definition of a simple sentence aligns perfectly with the choice that it contains only one independent clause, making it the correct response.

A simple sentence is defined as a sentence that consists of one independent clause, which means it contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. This structure allows the sentence to stand alone without additional clauses. In contrast, options that suggest multiple clauses (like option A), a subject without a verb (like option C), or a combination of dependent and independent clauses (like option D) describe other types of sentence structures—specifically, compound and complex sentences. Therefore, the definition of a simple sentence aligns perfectly with the choice that it contains only one independent clause, making it the correct response.