Learn Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences with clear explanations and easy identification techniques. Understand their structure, differences, and usage with examples. Practice with a well-designed worksheet and answers. Perfect for Class 8 and ESL learners!
Types of Sentences According to Structure
Based on the clauses they contain, sentences are generally of three types.
- Simple sentences
- Compound sentences
- Complex sentences
For example,
- The eagle flew high into the sky. (Simple sentence)
- Ravi stood up angrily and stomped out of the room. (Compound sentence)
- The man who is wearing a red shirt is my brother. (Complex sentence)
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1. Simple sentences
A sentence with a subject and only one finite verb is called a simple sentence. A simple sentence is also an independent clause.
For example,
- Dark clouds are gathering.
- The chicken crossed the road.
These sentences convey a complete thought and contain one finite verb.
An adverb or an adverb phrase may modify a simple sentence.
For example,
- Unfortunately, dark clouds are gathering. (an adverb)
- There being no traffic, the chicken crossed the road. (an adverb phrase)
2. Compound Sentences
A sentence that is formed by joining two or more principal or main clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction is called a compound sentence.
For example,
- He turned left, and she turned right.
- You can get well soon, or your condition can get worse.
- He went to see her, but she wasn’t there.
- I say what I mean, and you mean what you say.
These sentences are formed by joining two independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions.
If the finite verbs in a compound sentence have the same subject, then this subject is often left out from the later coordinate clause(s).
For example,
- He went to the market and bought some vegetables. (= He went to the market and he bought some vegetables.)
Sometimes, the finite verb is common to two or more subjects. It is, then, not repeated in later coordinate clauses.
For example,
- He or she has to meet me. (= He has to meet me or she has to meet me.)
Compound sentences may have more than two coordinate clauses.
For example,
He went to the market and bought some vegetables, but forgot to get his mobile phone account topped up.
3. Complex Sentences
A sentence which has a main clause and at least one subordinate clause is called a complex sentence. The subordinate clause can be a noun clause, an adjective clause or an adverb clause.
For example,
- The teacher realised that the students weren’t prepared.
- The teacher spoke to the students who weren’t prepared.
- The teacher scolded the students as they weren’t prepared.
These sentences are formed by joining an independent clause with a dependent clause with the help of a subordinating conjunction
How to identify the type of sentence-
1. Count the number of finite verbs in the sentence. If there is only one, it is a simple sentence.
2. If the sentence comprises only one main and one independent clause, it is a compound sentence. The clauses are then coordinate clauses which are joined by coordinating conjunctions.
3. If the sentence comprises a single main clause and at least one subordinate clause, then it is a complex sentence. Each subordinate clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
This table summarises the three types of sentences based on the clauses they have.
| Type of Sentence | Number of Clauses | Types of Clauses |
| Simple | One | Main |
| Complex | More than one | Main and Subordinate |
| Compound | More than one | Main and Coordinate |
Simple Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheets
Identify these sentences as simple (S), compound (Co) or complex (Cx).
1. What goes up, comes down.
2. Go to the shop and buy some fruit.
3. What you see is what you get.
4. Have you seen or heard from Hari recently?
5. The big brown dog ran after the blue and red ball.
6. On reaching the shop, don’t forget to buy some fruit.
7. Before the queen rode in the parade, she gave a speech.
8. James and Tina rode their bicycles after they ate lunch.
9. You, not I, have to be at the station at five in the morning.
10. We have to go to bed when the clock chimes ten o’clock.
11. The teacher and the Principal met in the hall near the library.
12. The pearl disappeared into the ocean depths, never to be seen again.
13. Many brave soldiers fought in the war, and they received medals.
14. When the sky is cloudy, I like to sit outside.
15. She dropped the pan and the plate, but she held on to the spoon.
16. They dug at the spot where it was marked X.
17. After midnight some people say the ghosts come out of the haunted attic.
18. I always felt that we would meet again, but didn’t think that it would happen so soon.
19. There, at the bottom of the trunk, lay the old album, the pictures faded and crumbling, yet none of us had even thought of searching for it in that obvious place.
20. Blessed are the poor, for they don’t ask for much.
Simple Compound and Complex Sentences Answers
1. What goes up, comes down. – Cx (Complex)
2. Go to the shop and buy some fruit. – Co (Compound)
3. What you see is what you get. – Cx (Complex)
4. Have you seen or heard from Hari recently? – S (Simple)
5. The big brown dog ran after the blue and red ball. – S (Simple)
6. On reaching the shop, don’t forget to buy some fruit.- S (Simple)
7. Before the queen rode in the parade, she gave a speech. – Cx (Complex)
8. James and Tina rode their bicycles after they ate lunch. – S (Simple)
9. You, not I, have to be at the station at five in the morning. – S (Simple)
10. We have to go to bed when the clock chimes ten o’clock.- Cx (Complex)
11. The teacher and the Principal met in the hall near the library. – S (Simple)
12. The pearl disappeared into the ocean depths, never to be seen again.- Co (Compound)
13. Many brave soldiers fought in the war, and they received medals. – Co (Compound)
14. When the sky is cloudy, I like to sit outside. – Cx (Complex)
15. She dropped the pan and the plate, but she held on to the spoon. – Co (Compound)
16. They dug at the spot where it was marked X. – Cx (Complex)
17. After midnight some people say the ghosts come out of the haunted attic. – Cx (Complex)
18. I always felt that we would meet again, but didn’t think that it would happen so soon. – Co (Compound)
19. There, at the bottom of the trunk, lay the old album, the pictures faded and crumbling, yet none of us had even thought of searching for it in that obvious place. – Co (Compound)
20. Blessed are the poor, for they don’t ask for much. – Cx (Complex)
FAQs on Simple Compound and Complex Sentences
1. What are simple, compound, and complex sentences with examples?
Ans: 1. Simple Sentence
A sentence with a subject and only one finite verb is called a simple sentence.
Examples:
- The sun rises in the east.
- She loves reading books.
- The baby cried loudly.
2. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so – FANBOYS) or a semicolon.
Examples:
- You can get well soon, or your condition can get worse.
- She studied hard, so she passed the exam.
- The train was late; we had to wait.
3. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent (subordinate) clause connected by a subordinating conjunction (because, although, when, while, since, if, etc.).
Examples:
- When the teacher entered, the students became silent.
- I stayed at home because it was raining.
- Although she was tired, she continued working.
2. What identify the sentences as simple compound or complex class 8?
Ans: 1. Count the number of finite verbs in the sentence. If there is only one, it is a simple sentence.
2. If the sentence comprises only one main and one independent clause, it is a compound sentence. The clauses are then coordinate clauses which are joined by coordinating conjunctions.
3. If the sentence comprises a single main clause and at least one subordinate clause, then it is a complex sentence. Each subordinate clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
3. What is an example of a complex sentence for class 8?
Ans: The teacher realized that the students weren’t prepared.
The teacher spoke to the students who weren’t prepared.
The teacher scolded the students as they weren’t prepared.
