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Grade 5 English Language Arts — Simple, compound and complex — in both directions

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

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Sort each sentence by its kind.

    Groups: Simple · Compound · Complex

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

  2. 2.Which of these sentences is complex?

    • a) The rain stopped; the sun came out.
    • b) The rain stopped before the sun came out.
    • c) The rain stopped and the sun came out.
    • d) The rain stopped, and then 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.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) He was tired, so he went to bed early.
    • c) When he was tired, he went to bed early.
    • d) Being tired, he went to bed early.

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

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

    Groups: Builds a compound sentence · Builds a complex sentence

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

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

  8. 8."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 weak, but he can walk.
    • d) He is too weak to walk.

Answer key — Grade 5 English Language Arts — Simple, compound and complex — in both directions

  1. 1. 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
  2. 2. b) 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. d) Being tired, he went to bed early.
  5. 5.
    • but
    • yet
    • and
  6. 6. 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
  7. 7.
    • 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
  8. 8. d) He is too weak to walk.