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

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

  2. 2.Which of these sentences is complex?

    • a) The rain stopped before the sun came out.
    • b) The rain stopped and the sun came out.
    • c) The rain stopped, and then the sun came out.
    • d) The rain stopped; the sun came out.

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

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

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

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

    Groups: Builds a compound sentence · Builds a complex sentence

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

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

  7. 7.Sort each sentence by its kind.

    Groups: Simple · Compound · Complex

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

  8. 8.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.
    • When we reached the station, we bought our tickets.
    • He is so weak that he cannot walk.
    • Although he is old, he works hard.
    • Because he was ill, he stayed at home.
    • I know where he lives.

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

  1. 1. b) Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
  2. 2. a) The rain stopped before the sun came out.
  3. 3.
    • when the bell rang, the children ran out
    • when the bell rang the children ran out
  4. 4. b) He is too weak to walk.
  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.
    • but
    • yet
    • and
  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. 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.