ENGLISH - COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES – KS2 | Improve Tuition | Tutors | Tuition | Tutoring

A compound sentence: is a sentence made up of two or more simple sentences. These two or more simple sentences are normally joined together by a coordinator such as “and” “but” “or”. If a compound sentence is divided the parts will each make sense as smaller sentences on their own.

A complex sentence: is a sentence made up of two different types of clauses. It contains a

main clause (a simple sentence) and a subordinate clause (a sentence which does not make sense by itself).

The main clauses provide the topics of the sentence, the subordinate clause adds extra detail and information afterwards.

Example

Lucy struggled with her English work but she now understands it because she asked her online tutor for help

Explanation

This compound-complex sentence can be broken down into two main clauses or simple sentences “Lucy struggled with her English work” and “she now understands it”. There is also a subordinate clause “Because she asked her online tutor for help.”

Remember you can check for main clauses by reading aloud and seeing if the sentence makes sense on its own. If it does then it is a main clause. If it does not make sense when read aloud then it is a subordinate clause.

Activity 1

Can you think of any examples of a compound-complex sentence? Try and write three below:

Answer:

[bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#fafafa” expand_text=”Reveal Answer” collapse_text=”Hide Answer” inline_css=”background: #2ea3f2; padding: 9px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;” ]1. The trees bowed in the wind which was howling loudly and their leaves rustled loudly. 2. John wanted to play football so he asked his friend if he wanted to play too. 3. The online tutor marked the homework and gave it back to the student who was very pleased with the mark.[/bg_collapse]

What is a compound-complex sentence?

Answer:

[bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#fafafa” expand_text=”Reveal Answer” collapse_text=”Hide Answer” inline_css=”background: #2ea3f2; padding: 9px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;” ]A compound-complex sentence is a sentence made up of a compound sentence and a complex sentence. It normally has at least two main clauses and one subordinate clause.[/bg_collapse]

Activity 2

Identify the simple sentences from the table below with a S, the compound sentences with a C and the complex sentences with a X and the compound-complex with a P.

Tears rolled down her face.		The sun was shining in the sky yet it was also raining what strange weather.
Lucy’s mum wouldn’t let her go to school unless she had eaten breakfast and brushed her teeth.		Peter ran faster than Holly but she ran very fast.
I wanted to eat out but Adam wanted to order food in.		Polly went for a long walk outside.
Everything was going well in the exam when suddenly the clock fell off the wall.		The computers at school work faster than John’s laptop.
The man was sat the piano was playing music when a lady walked in and started singing.		The football had a puncture and was flat.
Tom’s bike is fast but Adam’s bike is faster and bigger.		The stack of books was very tall if it wasn’t moved it would fall over.

Tears rolled down her face.	S	The sun was shining in the sky yet it was also raining what strange weather.	P
Lucy’s mum wouldn’t let her go to school unless she had eaten breakfast and brushed her teeth.	P	Peter ran faster than Holly but she ran very fast.	P
I wanted to eat out but Adam wanted to order food in.	C	Polly went for a long walk outside.	S
Everything was going well in the exam when suddenly the clock fell off the wall.	X	The computers at school work faster than John’s laptop.	X
The man was sat the piano was playing music when a lady walked in and started singing.	P	The football had a puncture and was flat.	C
Tom’s bike is fast but Adam’s bike is faster and bigger.	C	The stack of books was very tall if it wasn’t moved it would fall over.	X

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Activity 3

Look carefully at the sentences below. They are all examples of compound-complex sentences. Try breaking them down into their main clauses and subordinate clause and their subordinating conjunction.

Remember: The subordinating conjunctions are = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Example: The online tutor was there to help the tutee when they needed it and to support them in all their work.

Answer: Main clause 1: The online tutor was there to help the tutee, main clause 2: To support them in all their work, subordinate clause: when they needed it, subordinating conjunction: and.

Explanation: “The online tutor was there to help the tutee” and “to support them in all their work” are main clauses because they make sense as a single sentence. “When they needed it” is a subordinate clause because it does not make sense as a single sentence. “And” is the subordinating conjunction because it joins two sentence clauses together.

1. Hannah picked up the telephone and she dialled her friends number who she wanted to invite to the cinema.

Main clause:
Answer:

Subordinate clause:
Answer:

[bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#fafafa” expand_text=”Reveal Answer” collapse_text=”Hide Answer” inline_css=”background: #2ea3f2; padding: 9px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;” ]ANSWER: Main clause 1 = Hannah picked up the telephone. Main clause 2 = she dialled her friends number. Subordinate clause = Who she wanted to invite to the cinema. Coordinating Conjunction = and. [/bg_collapse]

2. Adam had finished his tuition homework so he got it ready to show his online tutor what he had completed.

Main clause:
Answer:

Subordinate clause:
Answer:

[bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#fafafa” expand_text=”Reveal Answer” collapse_text=”Hide Answer” inline_css=”background: #2ea3f2; padding: 9px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;” ]ANSWER: Main clause 1 = Adam had finished his tuition homework. Main clause 2 = He got ready to show his online tutor. Subordinate clause = what he had completed. Coordinating Conjunction = so.[/bg_collapse]

3. In winter some trees lose their leaves because of the weather yet other types of trees keep them.

Main clause:
Answer:

Subordinate clause:
Answer:

[bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#fafafa” expand_text=”Reveal Answer” collapse_text=”Hide Answer” inline_css=”background: #2ea3f2; padding: 9px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;” ]ANSWER: Main clause 1 = In winter some trees lose their leaves. Main clause 2 = Other types of trees keep them. Subordinate clause = Because of the weather. Coordinating Conjunction = yet.[/bg_collapse]

4. When you drive a car it can be dangerous so you should always wear your seatbelt and you should drive carefully.

Main clause:
Answer:

Subordinate clause:
Answer:

[bg_collapse view=”link” color=”#fafafa” expand_text=”Reveal Answer” collapse_text=”Hide Answer” inline_css=”background: #2ea3f2; padding: 9px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600;” ]ANSWER: Main clause 1 = You should always wear your seatbelt. Main clause 2 = you should drive carefully. Subordinate clause = When you drive a car it can be dangerous. Coordinating Conjunction = so, and.[/bg_collapse]

Activity 4

Choose a subordinate clause and a compound sentence to create some compound-complex sentences. Then write them out underneath

Compound Sentences	Subordinate Clauses
I like eating fish but not prawns.	as someone else probably needed it more than he did.
The skies are grey yet the weatherman promised good weather.	who was sat at the old piano playing it.
The online tuition work is fun and interesting.	because they taste strange.
Lucy had finished colouring so she gave her crayons to her friend	unless I misheard and he meant tomorrow.
In the big house I saw an old man or an old woman.	which is set for me by my online tutor.
He returned the lost money he had found for he knew it was the right thing to do.	who needed them to draw a picture.

Answer:

(ANSWER: I like eating fish but not prawns because they taste strange.)

(ANSWER: The skies are grey yet the weatherman promised good weather unless

I misheard and he meant tomorrow.

(ANSWER: The online tuition work is fun and interesting which is set for me by my online tutor.)

(ANSWER: Lucy had finished colouring so she gave her crayons to her friend who needed them to draw a picture.)

(ANSWER:In the big house I saw an old man or an old woman who was sat at the old piano playing it.)

(ANSWER: He returned the lost money he had found for he knew it was the right thing to do as someone else probably needed it more than he did.)

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