Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

What is a simple sentence composed of?

1. Multiple verbs and subjects

2. One subject and one verb

3. A subject, verb, and a complement

4. A compound subject with multiple verbs

The correct answer is: One subject and one verb

A simple sentence is characterized by having one subject and one verb. This structure allows it to express a complete thought without the need for additional clauses or complex phrases. For example, the sentence "The dog barks" possesses a singular subject ("the dog") and a singular verb ("barks"), fulfilling the requirements of a simple sentence. This straightforward format is fundamental in English grammar, as it forms the building block for more complex sentence structures. In contrast, options that include multiple verbs or subjects imply a level of complexity that goes beyond the simple sentence definition, such as compound or complex sentences. Therefore, the choice that states a simple sentence consists of one subject and one verb accurately reflects its essential grammatical structure.