Compound Sentences

Complex-Compound Sentences

By Kevin Nord

Simple sentence

• contains one independent clause

• Ex: I dislike teaching online.

Compound sentence

• has two or more independent clauses

• Ex: I dislike teaching online, for the day seems to go on forever.

Complex sentence

• has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

• Ex: Because the day seems to go on forever, I dislike teaching online.

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​ Dependent Clause

Independent Clause​

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Multiple Choice

A subject and a verb that cannot stand alone is called a __________.

• simple sentence

• phrase

• dependent clause (subordinate clause)

• independent clause

Multiple Select

Find ALL the dependent clauses.

• The orange creamsicle was melting in the sun.

• My favorite type of pizza is pepperoni

• because the sun was hidden

• since we won our first baseball game

Multiple Choice

Identify the dependent clause in this sentence:

If you save some of it, you can build a door.

• If you save some of it

• you can build a door.

Multiple Select

Find ALL the independent clauses.

• The pink polka-dotted giraffe was my favorite stuffed animal

• A hippo was splashing water all over the people watching him

• the purple grape is delicious

• sitting on my chair

Compound-complex sentence

• has two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses

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• Example: Because the day seems to go on forever, I dislike teaching remotely, and I can't wait to see my studentsin-person.

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Dependent clause

Independent clause

Multiple Choice

Identify how many independent clauses this sentence has:

I am allergic to peanuts; if I eat a PB&J, I will get REALLY sick.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• None

Multiple Choice

Identify the dependent clause in this compound-complex sentence: If you bake cookies, your kitchen will smell good, and your mom will be happy.

• If you bake cookies

• your kitchen will smell good

• your mom will be happy

• There is no dependent clause.

Multiple Select

Unless I am mistaken, the first door on the left is the entrance to the art room; however, it may be another door farther along.

(There may be more than one correct answer!)

• 'Unless I am mistaken,' is an independent clause.

• 'Unless I am mistaken,' is a dependent clause.

• 'The first door on the left is the entrance to the art room,' is an independent clause.

• 'The first door on the left is the entrance to the art room,' is a dependent clause.

Making Compound-Complex Sentences

• A compound-complex sentence is comprised of at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clause.

• Example: Though Dylan prefers watching baseball movies, he rented the latest romantic comedy, and he enjoyed it very much.

• Example: Briana forgot her friend's birthday, so she sent her a card when she finally remembered.

Compound-Complex Sentence

Here's an example...

Although there are people who do not think that horseracing is ethical, others enjoy watching it, and they attend races on a regular basis.

Let's break it down.

The parts of this sentence

​The complex part of the sentence

Although there are people who do not think that horseracing is ethical,

The parts of this sentence

The compound part of the sentence

others enjoy watching it, and they attend races on a regular basis.

Multiple Choice

Combine these parts in an order that makes a logical compound-complex sentence.

1. Although I drank a lot of coffee

2. And I don't think I'll make it through the movie

3. I'm getting sleepy

• Although I drank a lot of coffee, I'm getting sleepy, and I don't think I'll make it through the movie.

• Although I drank a lot of coffee, and I don't think I'll make it through the movie, I'm getting sleepy.

• And I don't think I'll make it through the movie, I'm getting sleepy although I drank a lot of coffee.

Multiple Select

Combine these parts to make a logical compound-complex sentence.

1. So we should circumvent the crowded hallway

2. If I'm late again to class,

3. I will get a lunch detention,

• I will get a lunch detention, so we should circumvent the crowded hallway if I'm late again to class.

• If I'm late again to class, so we should circumvent the crowded hallway I will get a lunch detention.

• If I'm late again to class, I will get a lunch detention, so we should circumvent the crowded hallway.

• I will get a lunch detention if I'm late again to class, so we should circumvent the crowded hallway.