Identifying Sentence Types

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: My son can be difficult sometimes, but overall he is a good kid.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there are two clauses: "My son can be difficult sometimes" is an independent clause, and "but overall he is a good kid" is another independent clause. A sentence with one or more independent clauses is a compound sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: The teacher walked into the classroom, greeted the students, and took attendance.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there is only one clause! The subject of the sentence is "the teacher" and that teacher is doing three things (or verbs): they "walked," "greeted," and "took." This is independent because you wouldn't be able to start the sentence at "greeted the students" and have it make sense.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: The woman, who called my teacher, turned out to be my aunt.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there are two clauses: "The woman...turned out to be my aunt " is the independent clause, and "who called my mother" is the dependent clause. A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause is a complex sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: While they were reading, Samson heard a loud bang, so they went outside to investigate.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there are three clauses: "Samson heard a loud bang" is the independent clause, "so they went outside to investigate" is another independent clause joined with a coordinating conjunction, and "While they were reading" is the dependent clause. "Samson heard a loud bang" is an independent clause that joins with an independent clause to make a compound sentence and a dependent clause to make a complex, making it a compound-complex sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: Tim is a terrible cook, so he gets takeout every night.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there are two clauses: "Tim is a terrible cook" is an independent clause, and "so he gets takeout every night" is another independent clause. A sentence with one or more independent clauses is a compound sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: Antonia played video games while James cooked their dinner.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there are two clauses: "Antonia played video games " is the independent clause, and "while James cooked their dinner" is the dependent clause. A sentence with one independent clause and one dependent clause is a complex sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed as he left the building.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there are three clauses: "Lightning flashed" is the independent clause, "thunder boomed" is another independent clause joined with a coordinating conjunction, and "as he left the building" is the dependent clause. "thunder boomed" is an independent clause that joins with an independent clause to make a compound sentence and a dependent clause to make a complex, making it a compound-complex sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1H

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.5.1E

CCSS.L.7.1B

Identify whether the sentence is a simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence: The shop was filled with many delicious cakes, pastries, and a delectable smell.

• Simple

• Compound

• Complex

• Compound-Complex

Answer explanation

In this sentence, there is only one clause! The subject of the sentence is "the shop" and that shop is filled with three things: "delicious cakes, pastries, and a delectable smell."

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1J

CCSS.L.2.1F

CCSS.L.3.1I

CCSS.L.7.1B