📚 Detailed Explanation of Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences

When learning about sentences in Year 6 English, it’s important to understand the differences between simple, compound, and complex sentences. These types help us make our writing interesting and clear. Let’s look at what each one means, how to spot them, and some examples.

✏️ What is a Simple Sentence?

A simple sentence has just one main idea or clause. It contains a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (what the subject does). It expresses a complete thought all by itself.

How to identify a simple sentence:

  • It has only one subject and one verb.
  • It does not have words like “and,” “but,” “because,” or “although” joining parts of the sentence.

Example of a simple sentence:

  • The dog barks.
  • She likes reading.
  • We went to the park.

These sentences are easy to understand because they have just one complete idea.

🔗 What is a Compound Sentence?

A compound sentence joins two or more simple sentences (main clauses) together. These simple sentences are connected by joining words called coordinating conjunctions. The common ones are: and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor.

How to identify a compound sentence:

  • It has at least two subjects and two verbs.
  • It uses a coordinating conjunction to join the two parts.
  • Each part could be a simple sentence on its own.

Example of a compound sentence:

  • I wanted to play football, but it started to rain.
  • She likes apples, and he prefers oranges.
  • We can watch a movie, or we can play a game.

🧩 What is a Complex Sentence?

A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate (or dependent) clauses. The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence because it is not a complete thought. It often starts with words like because, although, if, when, while, since, or that.

How to identify a complex sentence:

  • It has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
  • The subordinate clause adds extra information but depends on the main clause.
  • It often uses subordinating conjunctions like “because” or “although”.

Example of a complex sentence:

  • Because it was raining, we stayed indoors.
  • She went to bed early although she wasn’t tired.
  • If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.

📝 Summary to Help You Decide:

  • Simple sentence: One main clause, one complete idea (e.g., The cat sleeps.)
  • Compound sentence: Two or more main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., The cat sleeps, and the dog barks.)
  • Complex sentence: One main clause with one or more subordinate clauses joined by subordinating conjunctions (e.g., The cat sleeps because it is tired.)

Remember to look for the number of clauses and the joining words to help you decide if a sentence is simple, compound, or complex. Practising with examples will make it easier! ✨

✍️ 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Sentence Types for Year 6 English

Here are 20 questions to help you practise identifying if a sentence is simple, compound, or complex. The correct answer is given after each question to help you learn.

Question 1

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
The dog barked loudly in the garden.
Answer: Simple

Question 2

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
I wanted to go to the park, but it started to rain.
Answer: Compound

Question 3

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
Although it was raining, we went outside to play.
Answer: Complex

Question 4

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
She likes chocolate and he likes vanilla.
Answer: Compound

Question 5

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
The cat slept on the sofa all afternoon.
Answer: Simple

Question 6

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
Before the movie started, we bought some popcorn.
Answer: Complex

Question 7

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
Tom finished his homework, so he went outside to play.
Answer: Compound

Question 8

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
The children played happily in the park.
Answer: Simple

Question 9

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
Because the cake was burnt, we threw it away.
Answer: Complex

Question 10

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
I like apples, but my sister prefers bananas.
Answer: Compound

Question 11

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
The sun set behind the hills.
Answer: Simple

Question 12

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
We waited for the bus, and then we went home.
Answer: Compound

Question 13

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
While the dog chased the ball, the cat watched quietly.
Answer: Complex

Question 14

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
She drinks tea every morning.
Answer: Simple

Question 15

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
I cleaned my room, but it still looked messy.
Answer: Compound

Question 16

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
After we finished dinner, we went for a walk.
Answer: Complex

Question 17

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
The bird sang, and the wind blew gently.
Answer: Compound

Question 18

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
He reads quickly.
Answer: Simple

Question 19

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
Although she was tired, she kept working.
Answer: Complex

Question 20

Is the sentence simple, compound, or complex?
He ran home and told his mum what happened.
Answer: Simple

Remember:

  • Simple sentences have just one main idea and one verb.
  • Compound sentences join two main ideas with a linking word like and, but, or so.
  • Complex sentences have one main idea and at least one extra idea that depends on it, often starting with words like because, although, or before.

Keep practising to get better at spotting these sentence types! 💪✍️