Grammar: Compound and Complex

Multiple Select

Which of the following are sentences?

• has been peacefully sleeping

• • Thinking quickly, we put out the fire with a hose.

• By talking about their favorite recipes

• • The tired, old cat can’t catch mice anymore.

• • I don’t like December because it is always too cold.

Once you can identify a basic sentence, you can join or separate your sentences to best communicate your ideas.

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence is a sentence that connects two independent clauses, typically with a coordinating conjunction like and or but.

The key here is independent clauses, which are clauses that can each stand alone as a separate sentence.

Essentially, a compound sentence brings together individual, related sentences as one.

Compound sentences are easy to identify because they usually use a coordinating conjunction, which you may remember as FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

However, compound sentences can also use a semicolon to connect two clauses, in which case no conjunction is necessary.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are compound sentences?

• She wanted spinach salad; he wanted a hamburger.

• • He couldn't go home, for he had no place to go. 

• He went to the party, but she stayed home.

• • He couldn't go home, he had no place to go. 

• • I don’t like December because it is always too cold.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is a sentence that is composed of one or more dependent clauses and a single independent clause.

* A dependent clause is also known as a subordinate clause.

* An independent clause is a complete sentence on its own, unlike a dependent clause that depends on other clauses to express a complete idea.

Complex Sentences

A dependent clause is any clause that can’t stand alone as a complete sentence. It either lacks a subject, lacks a verb, or fails to express a full thought.

For example:
while you were sleeping
is a dependent clause
because it doesn’t express a standalone thought.

Complex Sentences

You can create a complex sentence by connecting a dependent clause to an independent sentence.

You can connect them using a subordinating conjunction, such as: because after
while until
although which
if when

Multiple Choice

Which subordinating conjuction is used with the meaning of

in spite of the fact that; even though.

• if

• because

• althought

• while

• since

Complex Sentences

A sentence is said to be complex if it contains the two clauses:
independent and dependent.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence only differs from a compound sentence in that it has a single independent clause, while a compound sentence has two independent clauses.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are complex sentences?

• • Since it was raining, I used an umbrella to get into the house.

• • He couldn't go home, for he had no place to go. 

• • Although she had won the race, she was still not excited.

• • Whenever it rains, people opt to stay indoors.

• • I don’t like rainy days because it is always too cold.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are NOT complex sentences?

• • I read a book; my father went to the store.

• • I read a book while my father went to the store.

• • I read a book, and my father went to the store.

• • While my father was sleeping, I read my favorite book.

• • I read my favorite book while my father was sleeping.

Let’s look at some other complex sentence examples:

• He stayed up late to finish the project although he was tired.

• I will feed the cat and start dinner when I get home.

• If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.

• We will have a picnic outside unless it starts raining.

• Since he was feeling sick, he stayed home from work.

• After I finish my work, I will take a break.

• As long as you study hard, you will do well on the test.

• The phone rang while I was studying.

• Although she had a lot of work to do, she took a break to go for a walk.

• If you need help with your homework, you can ask your teacher for assistance.