Section A: Read each sentence below. Decide – is it a complex sentence or not?
1. I bought a cake mix at the store.
2. If you read the directions, it will tell you how to bake the cake.
3. Since you don’t eat chocolate cake, I bought a vanilla cake mix.
4. We need to use three eggs.
5. I used a mixer and the wooden spoon.
6. Before I put the batter into the pan, I have to grease the pan.
7. I will use a large sheet pan.
8. The cake has to bake for twenty minutes.
9. When the timer rings, I’ll take the cake out of the oven.
10. After the cake cools, I can put on the frosting.
Section B: Decide where a comma should go in each sentence below to correctly punctuate the complex sentence.
11. Because it is raining we will need to wear raincoats.
12. After the rain stops we can run through the puddles.
13. When I see a rainbow in the sky I feel happy.
14. Since today is your birthday we have planned a party.
15. As we were decorating the house Mom came in the back door.
16. If you want a balloon I can blow one up for you.
17. While we are eating cake we can tell jokes.
18. Before you open your gifts I want to take a picture of you.
Answers: 1. not 2. complex 3. complex 4. not 5. not 6. complex 7. not 8. not 9. complex 10. complex 11. raining, we 12. stops, we 13. sky, I 14. birthday, we 15. house, Mom 16. balloon, I 17. cake, we 18. gifts, I