What characterizes a simple sentence?

• A. It contains two independent clauses
• B. It consists of a single independent clause
• C. It includes a dependent clause
• D. It features at least one adverbial phrase

Answer: (B)

A simple sentence is characterized by its structure, specifically that it consists of a single independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete thought and consists of a subject and a predicate. This type of sentence expresses a complete idea without needing additional information.

For instance, in the sentence "The cat sleeps," there is one subject ("the cat") and one predicate ("sleeps"), forming a complete and clear message.

In contrast, sentences that contain two independent clauses or include dependent clauses represent more complex sentence structures, such as compound or complex sentences. Additionally, while an adverbial phrase can add detail to a sentence, it is not a requirement for a simple sentence, as simple sentences can exist without any phrases at all. Thus, a simple sentence's defining feature is its singular independent clause, making the correct option the one that states it consists of a single independent clause.