Simple Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet for Students

English grammar is a jungle, and most students are running around blind, mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences like a TikTok dance. This is why the simple compound and complex sentences worksheet slices through the mess and helps you with rules, examples, and exercises that actually stick. No more “maybe this is right?” moments. You’re about to learn how sentences breathe, connect, and flex like they own the page. 

Simple Compound and Complex Sentences: Overview

Before we start with the simple, compound and complex sentences worksheet, it is time we run through the basics of all these three types of sentences and how each type of sentence is used and formed.

Simple Sentences

As the name suggests, a simple sentence is very basic consisting of of a subject and a predicate. It is a sentence that contains only one independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It must have a subject and a verb.   

Example:

“The cat sat on the mat.”

In this sentence:

• “The cat” is the subject.
• “sat” is the verb.

Compound Sentences

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

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.  

Example:

“Although I was tired, I finished my homework.”

Here, “I finished my homework” is the independent clause, and “Although I was tired” is the dependent clause. 

Check out this image quickly which provides information about the 3 types of sentences — simple, compound and complex. 

Simple Compound and Complex Sentences: Examples

Now that we are clear about the concept of simple, compound, and complex sentences, it’s time to take a look at some of the example sentences.

Simple Sentences	Compound Sentences	Complex Sentences
The cat purrs softly.	I love to read books, and my sister enjoys painting.	Because it was raining heavily, we decided to stay indoors.
They love to play soccer.	He plays soccer, but she prefers swimming.	Although she was tired, she continued working on her project.
We will go to the park tomorrow.	She loves her job, yet she complains about it a lot.	When the phone rang, she jumped up to answer it.
He is eating an apple.	We work during the day, and we relax in the evening.	If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
She is reading a book.	They study hard, so they get good grades.	Since it was a beautiful day, we went for a walk in the park.

Also Read: Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech Interrogative Sentences

Simple Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet 

Now that you are familiar with simple, compound and complex sentences, it is time to test your knowledge. For your assistance, we have compiled this worksheet along with the answers in the end.

Simple Sentences

Instructions: Circle the subject in the following simple sentences given below.

1. I like reading books before my bedtime. 
2. She stacked the books on the shelf. 
3. Ariel and Linsey are playing with the ball. 
4. Sarah sang in the shower.
5. Ben and Alex played chess. 
6. John has served 600 customers. 
7. Wendy washed her dirty curtains. 
8. Peter cut an onion. 
9. The old tree had sat there for over a hundred years.
10. John and his dog are walking down the street.

Answers:

1. I like reading books before my bedtime.
2. She stacked the books on the shelf.
3. Ariel and Linsey are playing with the ball.
4. Sarah sang in the shower.
5. Ben and Alex played chess.
6. John has served 600 customers.
7. Wendy washed her dirty curtains.
8. Peter cut an onion.
9. The old tree had sat there for over a hundred years.
10. John and his dog are walking down the street.

Compound Sentences

Instructions: Choose the most appropriate compound words from the box and complete the following sentences.

For	So	Yet	And	Or
Unless	However	Because	But	After

1. You can play ____ you have finished your homework.
2. We can play ____ we can have ice cream.
3. The gym is closed ____, we can go the park.
4. I eat almonds ____ a snack before dinner. 
5. We went to buy shoes ____ the car broke down. 
6. Polly is famous ____ she is very humble.
7. James said no ____ he didn’t want to go.
8. Sam will miss the bus, ____ she finds her keys.
9. I missed the bus, ____ I walked to the park.
10. I bought an apple,  ____  I bought a pear.

Check Answers:

1. You can play after you have finished your homework.
2. We can play or we can have ice cream.
3. The gym is closed so, we can go the park.
4. I eat almonds for a snack before dinner.
5. We went to buy shoes but the car broke down.
6. Polly is famous and she is very humble.
7. James said no because he didn’t want to go.
8. Sam will miss the bus unless she finds her keys.
9. I missed the bus so I walked to the park.
10. I bought an apple, and I bought a pear.

Complex Sentences

Instructions: Underline independent clauses in each of the following sentences mentioned below.

1. After we have breakfast, we’ll start our work.
2. Now that our work is done, we can relax. 
3. You act as if you have never done anything wrong. 
4. He cut the apple in half because it was so big.
5. I picked Chris up today since the bus wasn’t running.
6. Ed sits at his desk whenever he needs to concentrate.
7. You can have this last cookie as I am full.
8. He never comes over though I often invite him.
9. We should spend some time together now that we are friends.
10. We are out of tissues. 

Answers:

1. Now that our work is done, we can relax.
2. You act as if you have never done anything wrong.
3. He cut the apple in half because it was so big.
4. I picked Chris up today since the bus wasn’t running.
5. Ed sits at his desk whenever he needs to concentrate.
6. You can have this last cookie as I am full.
7. He never comes over though I often invite him.
8. We should spend some time together now that we are friends.
9. We are out of tissues.

Also Read: Examples of Abstract Noun in Sentences

Simple Compound and Complex Sentences Exercises with Answers

Simple Sentences

Instructions: Identify the simple sentences in the following list.

1. The cat sat on the mat.
2. Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
3. The children played in the park.
4. If you study hard, you will pass the test.
5. The old man walked slowly down the street.
6. Although she was tired, she finished her work.
7. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Check Answers:

1. The cat sat on the mat.
2. The children played in the park.
3. The old man walked slowly down the street.
4. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

These are simple sentences because they each contain only one independent clause.

Compound Sentences

Instructions: Identify the independent clauses in each sentence and underline them. Then, bold the coordinating conjunction that joins them.

1. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.
2. I wanted to go to the movies, but I had to study.
3. She likes to read books, or she enjoys watching TV.
4. We could go to the beach, or we could stay home.
5. He is a good student, for he studies hard.
6. I am hungry, so I will eat a sandwich.
7. She is tired, yet she keeps working.
8. The rain was pouring, nor did we have an umbrella.

Answers:

1. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.
2. I wanted to go to the movies, but I had to study.
3. She likes to read books, or she enjoys watching TV.
4. We could go to the beach, or we could stay home.
5. He is a good student, for he studies hard.
6. I am hungry, so I will eat a sandwich.
7. She is tired, yet she keeps working.
8. The rain was pouring, nor did we have an umbrella.

Complex Sentences

Instructions: Identify the independent and dependent clauses in the following complex sentences.

1. Because it was raining, we stayed indoors.
2. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
3. Although she was tired, she continued working.
4. When the phone rang, she answered it.
5. Since it was a beautiful day, we went for a walk.

Check Answers:

1. Independent clause: we stayed indoors Dependent clause: Because it was raining
2. Independent clause: you will pass the exam Dependent clause: If you study hard
3. Independent clause: she continued working Dependent clause: Although she was tired
4. Independent clause: she answered it Dependent clause: When the phone rang
5. Independent clause: we went for a walk Dependent clause: Since it was a beautiful day.

Also Read: Countable Noun Examples in Sentences

FAQs

Find related reads on Learn English here!

How to Change Sentences into Indirect Speech	Examples of Simile for Everyday Usage
Clause, Phrase and Sentence: What’s the Difference?	Best ‘So That’ Conjunction Examples
Sentence Correction Questions	How to Use ‘For’ in a Sentence as a Conjunction

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