Let’s go through each sentence one by one and figure out if it’s
simple,
compound, or
complex.
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What do these words mean?
-
Simple sentence: One complete thought. It has a subject and a verb, and that’s it — no extra clauses joined with special words.
-
Compound sentence: Two complete thoughts (independent clauses) joined together with a FANBOYS word: *For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So*. There’s usually a comma before the FANBOYS word.
-
Complex sentence: One complete thought + one incomplete thought (dependent clause). The incomplete thought starts with an AAAWWUBBIS word like *While, Because, If, Since*, etc.
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Now let’s look at each sentence:
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1. Do you want to go to the park?
→ This is just one question. One subject (“you”), one verb (“want”). No joining words.
✔ Simple
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2. While Max was at recess, he fell and hurt his knee.
→ Starts with “While” — that’s an AAAWWUBBIS word! So this has a dependent clause (“While Max was at recess”) and an independent clause (“he fell and hurt his knee”).
✔ Complex
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3. Do you have a dog, or do you have a cat?
→ Two questions joined by “or” — which is a FANBOYS word. Each part could stand alone as its own sentence.
✔ Compound
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4. My mom packed me an apple for lunch.
→ One subject (“My mom”), one verb (“packed”). No extra clauses or joining words.
✔ Simple
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5. My favorite subject is reading because I love good books.
→ Has “because” — that’s an AAAWWUBBIS word. So we have a main idea (“My favorite subject is reading”) and a reason (“because I love good books”).
✔ Complex
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6. Maria wanted to go to school, but she was sick.
→ Two complete ideas: “Maria wanted to go to school” and “she was sick”. Joined by “but” — a FANBOYS word. Comma before “but”.
✔ Compound
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7. I hope I do well on my test!
→ One subject (“I”), one main verb (“hope”). The rest (“I do well...”) is what she hopes — still part of one big idea. No FANBOYS or AAAWWUBBIS connecting two separate clauses.
✔ Simple
*(Note: Some might argue this is complex because “I do well...” is a noun clause, but in elementary grammar, this is usually treated as simple since there’s no subordinating conjunction starting a dependent clause.)*
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8. I feed my dog before I leave.
→ “Before” is an AAAWWUBBIS word. So: “I feed my dog” (main) + “before I leave” (dependent).
✔ Complex
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9. I woke up early, and I am dressed for school.
→ Two complete sentences: “I woke up early” and “I am dressed for school”. Joined by “and” — a FANBOYS word. Comma before “and”.
✔ Compound
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Final Answer:
1. Simple
2. Complex
3. Compound
4. Simple
5. Complex
6. Compound
7. Simple
8. Complex
9. Compound
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of complex and compound sentences worksheet.
