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Year 10 English — Simple, compound and complex — in both directions

Rewrite a sentence as simple, compound or complex without changing what it means.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Join into one complex sentence beginning with "When", and write the whole sentence: The bell rang. The children ran out.

  2. 2.Complete the compound sentence with one word: The sky was clear, ____ the wind was bitterly cold.

  3. 3.Match each simple sentence to the complex sentence that means the same thing.

    • Being ill, he stayed at home.
    • On reaching the station, we bought our tickets.
    • He is too weak to walk.
    • In spite of his age, he works hard.
    • I know his address.
    • The man in the blue shirt is my uncle.
    • I know where he lives.
    • He is so weak that he cannot walk.
    • The man who is wearing the blue shirt is my uncle.
    • Although he is old, he works hard.
    • Because he was ill, he stayed at home.
    • When we reached the station, we bought our tickets.

  4. 4.Put the steps of transforming a sentence in the order you should do them.

    • Then choose the joining word that shows the right relation between them.
    • Next, decide which idea is the main one and which one only supports it.
    • First, find the two ideas the sentence is holding together.
    • Finally, rewrite the sentence and check that the meaning has not changed.

  5. 5.Sort each joining word by the kind of sentence it builds.

    Groups: Builds a compound sentence · Builds a complex sentence

    • because
    • although
    • unless
    • but
    • and
    • so

  6. 6."He is so weak that he cannot walk." Which simple sentence means the same?

    • a) He is as weak as he walks.
    • b) He is weak, so he walks.
    • c) He is too weak to walk.
    • d) He is weak, but he can walk.

  7. 7.Sort each sentence by its kind.

    Groups: Simple · Compound · Complex

    • The bell rang loudly.
    • She ran fast, so she won the race.
    • When the bell rang, the class stood up.
    • She won the race easily.
    • The bell rang and the class stood up.
    • Because she ran fast, she won the race.

  8. 8.Change to a complex sentence: "He was tired, so he went to bed early."

    • a) He was tired; he went to bed early.
    • b) Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
    • c) He was tired and went to bed early.
    • d) Being tired, he went to bed early.

Answer key — Year 10 English — Simple, compound and complex — in both directions

  1. 1.
    • when the bell rang, the children ran out
    • when the bell rang the children ran out
  2. 2.
    • but
    • yet
    • and
  3. 3. Being ill, he stayed at home. → Because he was ill, he stayed at home.; On reaching the station, we bought our tickets. → When we reached the station, we bought our tickets.; He is too weak to walk. → He is so weak that he cannot walk.; In spite of his age, he works hard. → Although he is old, he works hard.; I know his address. → I know where he lives.; The man in the blue shirt is my uncle. → The man who is wearing the blue shirt is my uncle.
  4. 4. 1. First, find the two ideas the sentence is holding together. 2. Next, decide which idea is the main one and which one only supports it. 3. Then choose the joining word that shows the right relation between them. 4. Finally, rewrite the sentence and check that the meaning has not changed.
  5. 5. and → Builds a compound sentence; although → Builds a complex sentence; but → Builds a compound sentence; because → Builds a complex sentence; so → Builds a compound sentence; unless → Builds a complex sentence
  6. 6. c) He is too weak to walk.
  7. 7. The bell rang loudly. → Simple; The bell rang and the class stood up. → Compound; When the bell rang, the class stood up. → Complex; She won the race easily. → Simple; She ran fast, so she won the race. → Compound; Because she ran fast, she won the race. → Complex
  8. 8. b) Because he was tired, he went to bed early.