Compound-complex sentences Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Question 1. What is a compound sentence?
Answer: A compound sentence has at least two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction. For example, "Martha left me a note but I can't find it" is a compound sentence because it has two main clauses linked by the word "but".
In simple words: A compound sentence is two full sentences stuck together with a joining word like "but", "and", or "or".

Exam Tip: Look for coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) to identify compound sentences.

Question 2. What is a complex sentence?
Answer: A complex sentence has a main clause with at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction. For example, "She answered him impatiently when he questioned her credentials" is complex because it has a main clause and a dependent clause starting with "when".
In simple words: A complex sentence has one main sentence and at least one smaller sentence attached to it with a joining word like "when", "because", or "if".

Exam Tip: Find the subordinating conjunction (when, because, if, although, etc.) to spot the dependent clause.

Question 3. What is a compound-complex sentence?
Answer: A compound-complex sentence is a combination of both compound and complex sentences. It has at least two main clauses, and at least one of the main clauses has at least one dependent clause. For example, "I'll leave a message for the plumber but I'm not sure that he'll get it" is compound-complex because it has two main clauses linked by "but" and a dependent clause starting with "that".
In simple words: A compound-complex sentence is like mixing two ideas together. You have at least two main sentences joined by a word like "but", and at least one of them also has an extra clause attached with words like "that", "when", or "because".

Exam Tip: Always check for both a coordinating conjunction (joining two main clauses) AND a subordinating conjunction (creating a dependent clause).

Question 4. Decide if each sentence below is a complex or compound-complex sentence: "They are walking quickly down the hall which connects their lab to the main office."
Answer: Complex
In simple words: This sentence has only one main clause ("They are walking quickly down the hall") and one dependent clause ("which connects their lab to the main office"). Since there is only one main clause, it is complex, not compound-complex.

Exam Tip: Count the number of main clauses first - if there is only one, the sentence cannot be compound-complex.

Question 5. Decide if each sentence below is a complex or compound-complex sentence: "The castle looked beautiful in the sunlight, and it dominated the countryside which was around it."
Answer: Compound-complex
In simple words: This sentence has two main clauses ("The castle looked beautiful in the sunlight" and "it dominated the countryside") joined by "and", plus a dependent clause ("which was around it"). Because it has two main clauses plus a dependent clause, it is compound-complex.

Exam Tip: When you see both a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) connecting main clauses AND a subordinating conjunction (which, that, when), you have a compound-complex sentence.

Question 6. Decide if each sentence below is a complex or compound-complex sentence: "The Mercer family has gone on the vacation which they've been planning for years."
Answer: Complex
In simple words: This sentence has one main clause ("The Mercer family has gone on the vacation") and one dependent clause ("which they've been planning for years"). With only one main clause, it is complex, not compound-complex.

Exam Tip: Dependent clauses starting with "which", "who", or "that" referring to a noun are relative clauses that make a sentence complex if there is only one main clause.

Question 7. Decide if each sentence below is a complex or compound-complex sentence: "He was angry at his friend, but he decided that he wasn't going to tell him."
Answer: Compound-complex
In simple words: This sentence has two main clauses ("He was angry at his friend" and "he decided...") joined by "but", plus a dependent clause ("that he wasn't going to tell him"). Because it has two main clauses and a dependent clause, it is compound-complex.

Exam Tip: The word "that" signals a dependent clause, and when combined with a coordinating conjunction like "but", the sentence becomes compound-complex.

Question 8. Decide if each sentence below is a complex or compound-complex sentence: "We don't know whether we'll succeed, but it's important that we try."
Answer: Compound-complex
In simple words: This sentence has two main clauses ("We don't know" and "it's important") joined by "but", plus dependent clauses ("whether we'll succeed" and "that we try"). Because it has two main clauses and at least one dependent clause, it is compound-complex.

Exam Tip: Both "whether" and "that" introduce dependent clauses, and they appear in different main clauses joined by "but".

Question 9. Decide if each sentence below is a simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentence: "If you travel to New York, you should definitely visit Times Square."
Answer: Complex
In simple words: This sentence has a dependent clause ("If you travel to New York") and one main clause ("you should definitely visit Times Square"). Since it has only one main clause plus a dependent clause, it is complex.

Exam Tip: The word "if" is a subordinating conjunction that starts a dependent clause, making this sentence complex rather than simple.

Question 10. Decide if each sentence below is a simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentence: "He dried his face with a towel."
Answer: Simple
In simple words: This sentence has one subject ("He") and one main clause with no dependent clauses or coordinating conjunctions. A sentence with just one independent clause is simple.

Exam Tip: Simple sentences have no coordinating or subordinating conjunctions - they are just one complete thought.

Question 11. Decide if each sentence below is a simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentence: "I like the view from my apartment, but it can get very noisy outside."
Answer: Compound
In simple words: This sentence has two main clauses ("I like the view from my apartment" and "it can get very noisy outside") joined by "but". Because it has two main clauses and no dependent clauses, it is compound.

Exam Tip: Look for a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) connecting two complete thoughts without any dependent clauses to identify compound sentences.

Question 12. Decide if each sentence below is a simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentence: "Once you arrive in Europe, you should call me."
Answer: Complex
In simple words: This sentence has a dependent clause ("Once you arrive in Europe") starting with the subordinating conjunction "once", and a main clause ("you should call me"). With one main clause and one dependent clause, it is complex.

Exam Tip: Words like "once", "while", "when", "because", and "if" introduce dependent clauses that make a sentence complex if there is only one main clause.

Question 13. Decide if each sentence below is a simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentence: "It is obvious to me that you have to limit your spending, or you'll have to look for a second job."
Answer: Compound-complex
In simple words: This sentence has two main clauses ("It is obvious to me" and "you'll have to look for a second job") joined by "or", plus a dependent clause ("that you have to limit your spending"). Because it has two main clauses and a dependent clause, it is compound-complex.

Exam Tip: This sentence shows how a dependent clause can be part of the first main clause, while the coordinating conjunction connects to the second main clause.