Simple Sentences in English: 50 Examples

What is a Simple Sentence?

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.

1. I‘m happy.
2. She exercises every morning.
3. His dog barks loudly.
4. My school starts at 8:00.
5. We always eat dinner together.
6. They take the bus to work.
7. He doesn’t like vegetables.
8. I don’t want anything to drink.
9. This little black dress isn’t expensive. 
10. Those kids don’t speak English.

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. I went to the store.
2. She took the test last Friday.
3. We talked for hours.
4. The little girl played at the playground.
5. He had a great time yesterday.
6. I didn’t know about the meeting.
7. He didn’t take a shower.
8. My friend and I didn’t buy anything on our trip.
9. We didn’t have enough food for everyone.
10. Rachel didn’t tell anyone the secret.

We talked for hours. (We = subject, talked = verb)

Simple sentences in the Future Simple Tense

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

He won’t pass the exam without studying.

Simple sentences in the Present Continuous Tense

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

He’s not wearing a jacket despite the cold weather.

Simple sentences in the Past Continuous Tense

1. I was watching a movie last night.
2. She was singing loudly during the concert.
3. They were playing soccer yesterday.
4. We were having dinner at a fancy restaurant.
5. He was studying hard for his final exams.
6. I wasn’t paying attention to the lecture.
7. She was not watching her kids at the park.
8. They were not listening to the teacher’s instructions.
9. We weren’t traveling over spring break.
10. He was not feeling well yesterday.

I was watching a movie last night.

Simple sentences in the Future Continuous Tense

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

They’ll be celebrating their anniversary on a cruise.

Simple sentences in the Present Perfect Tense

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

They’ve won the championship

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.