Method for sending control information, base station, and user equipment

Disclosed are a method for sending control information, a base station, and a user equipment (UE). Taking implementation of the method as an example, the method comprises: a base station determining a first subframe and a second subframe, wherein the first subframe is a subframe having a control area, and the second subframe is a subframe with no control area; and the base station sending control information to a UE in the control area of the first subframe, and sending a data signal and/or an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH) on the second subframe to the UE. By means of this solution, the first subframe has a control area, the second subframe does not have a control area, and not all the subframes have a control area; therefore, the system overhead is reduced.