Which type of sentence is this? I like tulips, and I like roses.
complex
compound
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is compound.
A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, such as “and,” “but,” “or,” “nor,” “for,” “so,” or “yet.” Each independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence because it has its own subject and predicate.
In the sentence “I like tulips, and I like roses,” there are two independent clauses:
- “I like tulips”
- “I like roses”
Both clauses express complete thoughts with a subject (“I”) and a verb (“like”). These two clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction “and.” Because there is no subordinate clause (which would rely on another clause for its meaning), this structure qualifies as a compound sentence.
A complex sentence, in contrast, consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. For example, “I like tulips because they are colorful” would be a complex sentence because “because they are colorful” is a dependent clause explaining why the speaker likes tulips.
In summary, the sentence “I like tulips, and I like roses” is a compound sentence because it contains two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.