Exercises

Combine each pair of simple sentences to make a compound sentence. Use

the conjunction in parenthesis.
1. A small kitten followed me home. I gave it a bowl of milk. (so)
2. We were lost in the woods. My brother had a map in his backpack. (but)
3. girls were painting animal pictures. Katrina spilled the paint. (and)
4. Would you like to go to the movies? Would you rather stay home
tonight? (or)
5. Mr. Sanchez loved his new office. He didn't like the view. (but)
6. Ivana's bicycle had a flat tire. She had to walk to the grocery store. (so)
7. José wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. Maria wants to be
a nurse. (and)
8. Dr. Neu told Greg to floss his teeth every day. He didn't listen. (but)
9. The tigers at the zoo are always sleeping. The penguins are fun to
watch. (but)

State which of the following sentences are compound and which are complex?
1. The house was destroyed in the fire, but the whole family was saved.
2. Walking through the wood, he saw a fox that was following him.
3. If I do not get this job, I will start a business.
4. He said that he was so disappointed that he would not try again.
5. The men who rule the world with their pens are mightier than those who rule
the world with their swords.
6. The evil that men do lives after them.
7. All that glitters is not gold.
8. Neither the color nor the design of this cloth appeals to me.

Answers
1. Compound sentence (Main clause 1 – The house was destroyed in the fire; main
clause 2 –
but the whole family was saved)
2. Complex sentence (main clause – he saw a fox; subordinate clause – that was
following
him)
3. Complex sentence (main clause – I will start a business; subordinate clause – if
I do not
get this job)
4. Complex sentence (main clause – he said; subordinate clause 1 – that he was so
disappointed; subordinate clause 2 – that he would not try again)
5. Complex sentence (main clause – the men are mightier; subordinate clause 1 –
who rule
the world with their pens; subordinate clause 2 – who rule the world with their
swords)
6. Complex sentence (main clause – the evil lives after them; subordinate clause –
that men
do)
7. Complex sentence (main clause – all is not gold; subordinate clause – that
glitters)

8. Compound sentence (main clause 1 – neither the design appeals to me; main
clause 2 –
nor the color of the cloth appeals to me)

Here are some examples of dependent clauses:

o when you find the answer
o why he ran away
o if you need more time
o because you lost the money
o whenever you are ready
o though you know the answer
o although he agrees with me
o until time is called
o how he found out
o while you work on the cake
o unless you can tell me
o after I find the solution
o before time is called
o as the clock struck midnight
o unless you can raise the money
o so that we can open the bidding
o since you already have the answer
o where the wild things are free
o who can run the fastest
o whose name has the most syllables
o whom we know to be reliable
o which made him ill
o that belongs to our neighbors

Create complex sentences out of them.

When you find the answer, let me know.

o I know why he ran away.
o If you need more time, I can give you more time.
o I can’t reimburse you because you lost the money.
o We can go whenever you are ready.
o Though you know the answer, you shouldn’t raise your hand.
o Although he agrees with me, he won’t tell anyone.
o You can’t stop until time is called.
o I really don’t know how he found out.
o While you work on the cake, I will make the icing.
o Unless you can tell me, I won’t know when to stop.
o I will call you after I find the solution.
o You cannot stop before time is called.
o As the clock struck midnight, the coach turned into a pumpkin.
o Unless you can raise the money, you will lose your house.
o Raise your hand so that we can open the bidding.
o Since you already have the answer, please write it on the board.
o I want to go where the wild things are free.
o We will never know who can run the fastest.
o Take the people whose name has the most syllables.
o I hired Bill Smith, whom we know to be reliable.
o He ate the spoiled mushrooms, which made him ill.
o We found the dog that belongs to our neighbors.