15. Practice Writing Compound and Complex Sentences

Sharon Porterfield

You understand and can recognize simple, compound, and complex sentences. You know that you should use all three types of sentences to make your writing interesting. Let’s practice changing from one sentence type to another.

In the exercise below, you will use the two simple sentences to make a compound sentence. Then use the same two simple sentences to write a complex sentence. Here is an example for you.

Simple sentences:
Today is Saturday. I don’t have to go to school.

Now we have a compound sentence:
Today is Saturday, so I don’t have to go to school.

I used a comma and so from the FANBOYS to join the two simple sentences.

Now we have two complex sentences:
Since today is Saturday, I don’t have to go to school.
I don’t have to go to school because today is Saturday.

First sentence – I used the subordinate clause word since to start the dependent clause, and I put a comma after the dependent clause.
Second sentence – I started with an independent clause and used the subordinate clause word because to join the two clauses. There’s no comma when we start with the independent clause.

Now it’s your turn.

Section A –For each set of two simple sentences below, write a compound sentence, and then write a complex sentence.

  1. Dad is going to work early. I’ll take the bus to school.
  2. Today is a holiday. I still have to go to school.
  3. I make dinner. You wash the dishes.

Section B – Each of these is a fragment. Add a subject, add a verb, or add an independent clause to make a complete sentence.

  1. Sitting at the table.
  2. When the fire alarm goes off.
  3. The airline pilots and the flight attendants.

Answers: (note: these are suggestions for ways to write the new sentences. Your answers may be slightly different, depending on which of the FANBOYS or subordinate clause words you used.)

1. Compound: Dad is going to work early, so I’ll take the bus to school.
Complex: Since Dad is going to work early, I’ll take the bus to school. I’ll take the bus to school because Dad is going to work early.

2. Compound: Today is a holiday, but I still have to go to school.
Complex: Although today is a holiday, I still have to go to school.

3. Compound: I make dinner, and you wash the dishes.
Complex: You wash the dishes after I make dinner. When I make dinner, you wash the dishes.

4. John and I are sitting at this table. The newspaper staff is sitting at this table.

5. We must exit the building when the fire alarm goes off. When the fire alarm goes off, we should go outside.

6. The airline pilots and the flight attendants have lots of training. This letter is for the airline pilots and the flight attendants.