Compound-complex sentences - Grade 6 Assessment

True or False: To be a compound-complex sentence, a sentence needs at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

That's the main recipe! A compound-complex sentence is built from two or more complete thoughts (independent clauses) and at least one incomplete thought (dependent clause).

Okay class, let's think about the building blocks. A compound-complex sentence absolutely MUST have:

• One independent clause and one dependent clause.

• Two independent clauses joined by only a comma.

• At least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

• At least three dependent clauses.

Answer explanation

Correct! It needs the parts of a compound sentence (two independent clauses) and the parts of a complex sentence (an independent and a dependent clause) all rolled into one.

Look at this sentence: 'Before the party started, I finished my homework, ___ my brother decorated the room.' To make this a proper compound-complex sentence, fill in the blank with a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS).

Answer explanation

Nice job! A word like 'and', 'but', or 'so' (a coordinating conjunction) is needed to connect the two independent clauses: 'I finished my homework' and 'my brother decorated the room'.

Which of the following sentences is a compound-complex sentence? Read them all carefully!

• After we finished the game, we ordered pizza.

• The new video game is challenging, but it is really fun.

• When my alarm went off, I hit the snooze button, and I went right back to sleep.

• My dog loves to play fetch in the backyard.

Answer explanation

You got it! This sentence has a dependent clause ('When my alarm went off') and two independent clauses ('I hit the snooze button' and 'I went right back to sleep').

Let's break this one down. Identify and write down the *dependent clause* from the sentence below. Remember, the dependent clause can't stand on its own! Sentence: 'Although the movie was long, I enjoyed it, so I might watch it again.'

Answer explanation

Exactly! 'Although the movie was long' is a dependent clause because it starts with 'Although' and doesn't express a complete thought by itself. It depends on the rest of the sentence to make sense.

Punctuation is key! Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly.

• Because I studied all night I felt tired but I was ready for the test.

• Because I studied all night, I felt tired, but I was ready for the test.

• Because I studied all night, I felt tired but, I was ready for the test.

• Because I studied all night I felt tired, but I was ready for the test.

Answer explanation

Perfect punctuation! You need a comma after the introductory dependent clause ('Because I studied all night,') and another comma before the coordinating conjunction 'but' that joins the two independent clauses.

True or False: The following sentence is a compound-complex sentence. 'Mariah practiced her flute solo, and she played it for her family after they finished dinner.'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is true! It has two independent clauses ('Mariah practiced her flute solo' and 'she played it for her family') joined by 'and', plus a dependent clause ('after they finished dinner').

Let's build a sentence! Complete the thought below by adding a *second independent clause* to create a full compound-complex sentence. Don't forget the comma and conjunction! 'Since we have a snow day, I finished my project...'

Answer explanation

Excellent! An answer like ', and now I can play video games' or ', so I am going to relax' adds a second complete thought, correctly turning the sentence into a compound-complex one.

Now for a trickier one. Create a compound-complex sentence by adding a *dependent clause* to the beginning of this compound sentence. Make sure to use the correct punctuation! '______ the team played hard, but they lost the championship game.'

Answer explanation

Great work! Adding a dependent clause like 'Although the team played hard,' or 'Even though the team played hard,' at the beginning (with a comma!) successfully creates a compound-complex sentence.

Let's put it all together. Which option best combines these three ideas into a single, correct compound-complex sentence? Idea 1: I wanted to go to the park. Idea 2: It started to rain. Idea 3: We stayed inside and watched a movie.

• It started to rain, I wanted to go to the park, we stayed inside and watched a movie.

• Because I wanted to go to the park, it started to rain, and we stayed inside to watch a movie.

• Although I wanted to go to the park, it started to rain, so we stayed inside and watched a movie.

• I wanted to go to the park but it started to rain so we stayed inside.

Answer explanation

Fantastic! This option correctly uses 'Although' to create a dependent clause, then joins two independent clauses ('it started to rain' and 'we stayed inside and watched a movie') with ', so'. It's perfectly structured.