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Year 11 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.Change to a simple sentence: "Because he was tired, he went to bed early."

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

  3. 3.Sort each sentence by its kind.

    Groups: Simple · Compound · Complex

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

  4. 4.Join into one complex sentence beginning with "Although", and write the whole sentence: He was poor. He was honest.

  5. 5.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.
    • The man who is wearing the blue shirt is my uncle.
    • Because he was ill, he stayed at home.
    • He is so weak that he cannot walk.
    • When we reached the station, we bought our tickets.
    • Although he is old, he works hard.
    • I know where he lives.

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

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

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

  8. 8.Rewrite as one simple sentence beginning with "After", and write the whole sentence: He finished his homework. Then he went out.

Answer key — Year 11 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. d) Being tired, he went to bed early.
  3. 3. 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
  4. 4.
    • although he was poor, he was honest
    • although he was poor he was honest
    • although he was poor, yet he was honest
    • although he was poor yet he was honest
  5. 5. 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.
  6. 6.
    • but
    • yet
    • and
  7. 7. d) Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
  8. 8.
    • after finishing his homework, he went out
    • after finishing his homework he went out
    • after having finished his homework, he went out
    • after having finished his homework he went out