To solve this worksheet, we need to look at each sentence and decide if it is
simple,
compound, or
complex.
Here is a quick guide to help us:
*
Simple Sentence: Has one main idea (one subject and one verb). It doesn't have connecting words like "and," "but," "because," or "when" joining two parts.
*
Compound Sentence: Has two main ideas joined by a connecting word like
and,
but,
yet, or
so. You can usually split it into two complete sentences.
*
Complex Sentence: Has one main idea and one part that cannot stand alone (often starts with words like
when,
after,
before,
because,
since).
Let's go through them one by one:
1.
The children wore their dirty boots.
* This has just one main action. No connecting words.
* Type:
Simple (This one is already done for you).
2.
It was time for bed, yet it was still light outside.
* We have two complete thoughts: "It was time for bed" and "it was still light outside."
* They are joined by the word
yet.
* Type:
Compound
3.
The front door was locked, so she entered through the back.
* Two complete thoughts: "The front door was locked" and "she entered through the back."
* Joined by the word
so.
* Type:
Compound
4.
They took a lot of pictures when they visited Montana.
* Main thought: "They took a lot of pictures."
* The second part starts with
when ("when they visited Montana"). This part depends on the first part to make sense.
* Type:
Complex
5.
After the show began, he sat very quietly.
* The first part starts with
After ("After the show began"). This cannot stand alone as a full sentence.
* The main thought is "he sat very quietly."
* Type:
Complex
6.
The girl was wearing a red dress.
* Just one main idea. No connecting words.
* Type:
Simple
7.
He was playing on his computer.
* Just one main idea.
* Type:
Simple
8.
Georges would like to play, for he is the best player on the team.
* Two complete thoughts: "Georges would like to play" and "he is the best player on the team."
* Joined by the word
for (which means "because" here).
* Type:
Compound
9.
Before the bell rings, the student lined up at the door.
* Starts with
Before ("Before the bell rings"). This part needs the rest of the sentence to be complete.
* Type:
Complex
10.
We turned off the lights.
* Just one main idea.
* Type:
Simple
11.
We turned off the lights, and we went to sleep.
* Two complete thoughts: "We turned off the lights" and "we went to sleep."
* Joined by the word
and.
* Type:
Compound
12.
We turned off the lights after our mom told us to go to sleep.
* Main thought: "We turned off the lights."
* The second part starts with
after ("after our mom told us..."). This makes it dependent.
* Type:
Complex
Final Answer:
1. simple
2. compound
3. compound
4. complex
5. complex
6. simple
7. simple
8. compound
9. complex
10. simple
11. compound
12. complex
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of classifying sentences by structure worksheet answers.
