Compound Sentence Worksheets - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Compound Sentence Worksheets. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
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Step-by-step solution for: Compound Sentence Worksheets
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Compound Sentence Worksheets
Let’s go through each sentence one by one and decide if it’s simple, compound, or complex.
Remember:
- A simple sentence has just one complete thought (one subject + verb, maybe with extra details).
- A compound sentence has two complete thoughts joined by a comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) OR a semicolon.
- A complex sentence has one complete thought and one incomplete thought (starts with words like “because,” “although,” “when,” etc.).
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1. *In ancient times, the Nile River flooded every year in late summer.*
→ One complete idea. No joining word or second clause.
✔ Simple
2. *If they place what they want into their sacred coffin,*
→ Starts with “if” — that makes it an incomplete thought. It needs more to be a full sentence. But since this is listed as a standalone item, we assume it’s meant to be part of a complex sentence structure. However, as written, it’s not a full sentence — but for homework purposes, we’ll treat it as the beginning of a complex sentence.
Wait — actually, looking again: This is probably meant to be read as a fragment that would start a complex sentence. But since the instruction says “read each sentence below,” and this isn’t a full sentence… Hmm. Let me check the original image context — oh, wait, I can’t see the image, but based on standard worksheets, this might be a typo or misprint. Actually, let’s look at #3 — it continues the thought. Maybe #2 and #3 are meant to be together? No — the worksheet lists them separately. So perhaps #2 is intentionally incomplete to test if students recognize it’s not a full sentence? But the directions say “identify each as simple, compound, or complex.” So maybe it’s a trick? Or perhaps it’s meant to be: “If they place what they want into their sacred coffin, [then something happens]” — but it’s cut off. Since it starts with “if,” even though it’s incomplete, we classify it as complex because it begins with a subordinating conjunction.
✔ Complex (even though it’s a fragment — in school worksheets, fragments starting with “if,” “because,” etc., are often labeled complex)
Actually — let’s double-check common practice. In many elementary/middle school worksheets, if a sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction (like “if”), even if it’s not a full sentence, they still call it “complex” to teach the structure. So we’ll go with that.
3. *The poor people were buried close to the sand; the rich people were buried deep down.*
→ Two complete sentences joined by a semicolon. That’s compound!
✔ Compound
4. *The mummies follow a complex burial ritual process.*
→ One subject (“mummies”) + one verb (“follow”). Just one idea.
✔ Simple
5. *The royal guards did not protect the tomb from thieves.*
→ One subject (“guards”) + one verb (“did not protect”). Still one idea.
✔ Simple
6. *An embalmer removed the brain and filled the skull with sawdust.*
→ One subject (“embalmer”) doing two things — but still one sentence, no joining word between two independent clauses. The “and” here connects two verbs, not two full sentences. So still simple.
✔ Simple
7. *They considered their bodies weak and continued to go.*
→ Again, one subject (“they”) with two verbs (“considered” and “continued”). Connected by “and” — but not two separate sentences. So still simple.
✔ Simple
8. *We must keep quiet, or the guards will hear us and take our treasure away.*
→ First part: “We must keep quiet” — complete sentence. Second part: “the guards will hear us...” — also complete. Joined by “or” (which is a FANBOYS word). So this is compound.
✔ Compound
9. *Mr. Banks is charged with grave robbing crimes.*
→ One subject (“Mr. Banks”) + one verb (“is charged”). One idea.
✔ Simple
10. *Indiana Jones and his crew are really planning to buy a vacation spot for next year’s convention.*
→ One subject (“Indiana Jones and his crew”) + one verb (“are planning”). Even though there’s a long phrase after, it’s still one complete thought.
✔ Simple
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Final Answer:
1. Simple
2. Complex
3. Compound
4. Simple
5. Simple
6. Simple
7. Simple
8. Compound
9. Simple
10. Simple
Remember:
- A simple sentence has just one complete thought (one subject + verb, maybe with extra details).
- A compound sentence has two complete thoughts joined by a comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) OR a semicolon.
- A complex sentence has one complete thought and one incomplete thought (starts with words like “because,” “although,” “when,” etc.).
---
1. *In ancient times, the Nile River flooded every year in late summer.*
→ One complete idea. No joining word or second clause.
✔ Simple
2. *If they place what they want into their sacred coffin,*
→ Starts with “if” — that makes it an incomplete thought. It needs more to be a full sentence. But since this is listed as a standalone item, we assume it’s meant to be part of a complex sentence structure. However, as written, it’s not a full sentence — but for homework purposes, we’ll treat it as the beginning of a complex sentence.
Wait — actually, looking again: This is probably meant to be read as a fragment that would start a complex sentence. But since the instruction says “read each sentence below,” and this isn’t a full sentence… Hmm. Let me check the original image context — oh, wait, I can’t see the image, but based on standard worksheets, this might be a typo or misprint. Actually, let’s look at #3 — it continues the thought. Maybe #2 and #3 are meant to be together? No — the worksheet lists them separately. So perhaps #2 is intentionally incomplete to test if students recognize it’s not a full sentence? But the directions say “identify each as simple, compound, or complex.” So maybe it’s a trick? Or perhaps it’s meant to be: “If they place what they want into their sacred coffin, [then something happens]” — but it’s cut off. Since it starts with “if,” even though it’s incomplete, we classify it as complex because it begins with a subordinating conjunction.
✔ Complex (even though it’s a fragment — in school worksheets, fragments starting with “if,” “because,” etc., are often labeled complex)
Actually — let’s double-check common practice. In many elementary/middle school worksheets, if a sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction (like “if”), even if it’s not a full sentence, they still call it “complex” to teach the structure. So we’ll go with that.
3. *The poor people were buried close to the sand; the rich people were buried deep down.*
→ Two complete sentences joined by a semicolon. That’s compound!
✔ Compound
4. *The mummies follow a complex burial ritual process.*
→ One subject (“mummies”) + one verb (“follow”). Just one idea.
✔ Simple
5. *The royal guards did not protect the tomb from thieves.*
→ One subject (“guards”) + one verb (“did not protect”). Still one idea.
✔ Simple
6. *An embalmer removed the brain and filled the skull with sawdust.*
→ One subject (“embalmer”) doing two things — but still one sentence, no joining word between two independent clauses. The “and” here connects two verbs, not two full sentences. So still simple.
✔ Simple
7. *They considered their bodies weak and continued to go.*
→ Again, one subject (“they”) with two verbs (“considered” and “continued”). Connected by “and” — but not two separate sentences. So still simple.
✔ Simple
8. *We must keep quiet, or the guards will hear us and take our treasure away.*
→ First part: “We must keep quiet” — complete sentence. Second part: “the guards will hear us...” — also complete. Joined by “or” (which is a FANBOYS word). So this is compound.
✔ Compound
9. *Mr. Banks is charged with grave robbing crimes.*
→ One subject (“Mr. Banks”) + one verb (“is charged”). One idea.
✔ Simple
10. *Indiana Jones and his crew are really planning to buy a vacation spot for next year’s convention.*
→ One subject (“Indiana Jones and his crew”) + one verb (“are planning”). Even though there’s a long phrase after, it’s still one complete thought.
✔ Simple
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Final Answer:
1. Simple
2. Complex
3. Compound
4. Simple
5. Simple
6. Simple
7. Simple
8. Compound
9. Simple
10. Simple
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of identify simple and compound sentences worksheet.
