Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences

Grammar

CCSS L.7.1.BEngland: KS3 English (grammar)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 sentence structures)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences.

I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
I can explain each step and say why it works.
I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Simple, compound and complex sentences; Independent clause, dependent clause or phrase?

Leads to: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Simple, compound and complex sentences; Independent clause, dependent clause or phrase?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

What type of sentence is this? The dog barked whenever the postman came. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → complexPrompt: Count the clauses (each has its own subject and verb).
Is the group of words in brackets an independent clause, a dependent clause, or a phrase? [when the sun sets] (independent clause / dependent clause / phrase (not a clause)) → dependent clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it's a phrase.
Read the question and choose. Which part of this sentence is the dependent clause? "We stayed indoors because it was pouring." (We stayed indoors / indoors / because it was pouring / stayed) → because it was pouringPrompt: Look for a subordinating word (when, because, although, if, until, who).

Hook · 5 min

Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
Share the objective: Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
Example: What type of sentence is this? When the fox crept closer, the hens woke up, and the farmer grabbed his torch.
Step 1: Sentence type depends on how many independent and dependent clauses there are.
Step 2: Two independent clauses + one dependent clause.
Step 3: So the answer is: compound-complex
Answer: compound-complex
Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

What type of sentence is this? After lunch, the class visited the museum. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → simplePrompt: Count the independent clauses, then count the dependent clauses.
Read the question and choose. Combine into a COMPOUND sentence: "It was cold. We went swimming." • Even though it was cold, we went swimming. • Although it was cold, we went swimming. • It was cold when we went swimming. • It was cold, but we went swimming. (Even though it was cold, we went swimming. / Although it was cold, we went swimming. / It was cold when we went swimming. / It was cold, but we went swimming.) → It was cold, but we went swimming.Prompt: Find each clause (subject + verb) in every option.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

Read the question and choose. Combine into a COMPOUND sentence: "It was cold. We went swimming." • Even though it was cold, we went swimming. • It was cold, but we went swimming. • Although it was cold, we went swimming. • It was cold when we went swimming. (Even though it was cold, we went swimming. / It was cold, but we went swimming. / Although it was cold, we went swimming. / It was cold when we went swimming.) → It was cold, but we went swimming.Prompt: Find each clause (subject + verb) in every option.
What type of sentence is this? The dog barked, the baby cried, and the doorbell rang. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → compoundPrompt: Count the independent clauses, then count the dependent clauses.

Watch out for

Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Simple, compound and complex sentences.
Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

Move on to: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she….
Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
What type of sentence is this? We left early; the roads were already busy.
- A. simple
- B. compound
- C. complex
- D. compound-complex
2
Question 2
Read the question and choose. Which is a COMPOUND-COMPLEX sentence? • Ana lit a candle, and Leo found a torch. • Ana lit a candle in the dark. • When the lights went out, Ana lit a candle, and Leo found a torch. • When the lights went out, Ana lit a candle.
- A. Ana lit a candle, and Leo found a torch.
- B. Ana lit a candle in the dark.
- C. When the lights went out, Ana lit a candle, and Leo found a torch.
- D. When the lights went out, Ana lit a candle.
3
Question 3
Read the question and choose. Which is a SIMPLE sentence? • The runners were exhausted, so they lay on the grass. • The runners, who were exhausted, lay on the grass. • Exhausted after the race, the runners lay on the grass. • Because they were exhausted, the runners lay on the grass.
- A. The runners were exhausted, so they lay on the grass.
- B. The runners, who were exhausted, lay on the grass.
- C. Exhausted after the race, the runners lay on the grass.
- D. Because they were exhausted, the runners lay on the grass.
4
Question 4
What type of sentence is this? When the fox crept across the field, the hens woke up.
- A. simple
- B. compound
- C. complex
- D. compound-complex
5
Question 5
Read the question and choose. Which is a SIMPLE sentence? • The runners, who were exhausted, lay on the grass. • Exhausted after the race, the runners lay on the grass. • The runners were exhausted, so they lay on the grass. • Because they were exhausted, the runners lay on the grass.
- A. The runners, who were exhausted, lay on the grass.
- B. Exhausted after the race, the runners lay on the grass.
- C. The runners were exhausted, so they lay on the grass.
- D. Because they were exhausted, the runners lay on the grass.
6
Question 6
What type of sentence is this? She smiled because she had passed.
- A. simple
- B. compound
- C. complex
- D. compound-complex
7
Question 7
Read the question and choose. Combine into a COMPLEX sentence: "The museum was closed. We went to the park." • The museum was closed and we went to the park. • The museum was closed; we went to the park. • The museum was closed, so we went to the park. • Because the museum was closed, we went to the park.
- A. The museum was closed and we went to the park.
- B. The museum was closed; we went to the park.
- C. The museum was closed, so we went to the park.
- D. Because the museum was closed, we went to the park.
8
Question 8
What type of sentence is this? I like the book that you recommended, and I'll read the sequel.
- A. simple
- B. compound
- C. complex
- D. compound-complex

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Answer key: Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences

1. B. compound
2. C. When the lights went out, Ana lit a candle, and Leo found a torch.
3. C. Exhausted after the race, the runners lay on the grass.
4. C. complex
5. B. Exhausted after the race, the runners lay on the grass.
6. C. complex
7. D. Because the museum was closed, we went to the park.
8. D. compound-complex