Simple Compound and Complex Tricks

Simple, Compound, Complex Sentences

3 Different Types of Sentences

Simple Sentences

a sentence (subject & predicate) with one main idea

My friend is funny.

Open Ended

Write your own simple sentence.

Compound Sentences

a sentence that uses a conjunction and has two sentences inside it

My sister's dog is having puppies and she wants me to buy one of the puppies. 

Open Ended

Write your own compound sentence.

Complex sentences 

 a sentence that contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, but a dependent clause even though it has a subject and a verb cannot stand alone. 

Because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave.

independent clause

a complete sentence that can stand on their own.

I heated it in the microwave.

dependent clause

not complete sentences- they have to be part of a larger sentence. 

Because my coffee was cold

Multiple Choice

True or false: Dependent clauses can stand on their own as sentences.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which is a complex sentence?

• He ran out of money, so he had to stop playing poker.

• I am counting my calories, yet I really want dessert.

• I was snippy with him because I was running late for work.

• My favorite color is blue.

Multiple Choice

Which is a compound sentence?

• Katie sipped on her cappuccino.

• Whenever prices goes up, customers buy less products.

• Although it was very long, the movie was still enjoyable.

• They got there early, and they got really good seats.

Multiple Select

Which of these is a simple sentence? (More than one)

• My friend has three dogs.

• My friend.

• She has three dogs, four cats, and a goat at her house.

• It wasn't until she reached the end of the test that she realized she hadn't even read the book and then began to cry.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a complex sentence?

• She didn't know any of the answers on the test, so she just guessed.

• Mindy wasn't surprised that she failed her test.

• It was not her best day.

Multiple Choice

Which was the independent clause?

• She didn't know any of the answers on the test

• so she just guessed.