10. Practice Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

It’s time for you to see if you can tell the difference between a simple sentence, a compound sentence, and a complex sentence.

Section A– Read each sentence. Write S if it is a simple sentence. Write CD if it is a compound sentence. Write CX if it is a complex sentence.

  1. Sam has a dog named Bart and a cat named Misty.
  2. Bart is very energetic; Misty prefers to be lazy.
  3. Misty is nine years old, but Bart is still a young puppy.
  4. When Bart came to live with the family, Misty wasn’t happy.
  5. Now the two pets get along very well.

Section B – Read each sentence. If it is a simple sentence, write S. If it is a compound sentence, write CD and insert a comma or a semicolon. It is is a complex sentence, write CX and insert a comma if necessary.

  1. Bart sleeps at the foot of Sam’s bed.
  2. Misty likes to lay on the windowsill because she likes the sunshine.
  3. If the doorbell rings Bart barks and runs to the door.
  4. Sam uses a leash when he takes Bart for a walk.
  5. Sam tried to use a leash with Misty but the cat didn’t like it.

Answers: 1-S, 2-CD, 3-CD, 4-CX, 5-S, 6-S, 7-CX no comma, 8-CX comma after rings, 9-CX no comma, 10-CD comma after Misty.