Compound-Complex Sentences | Sentence Structure | English Grammar | Question Banks

Compound-complex sentences contain at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses, combining the features of both compound and complex sentence structures. Sixth-grade instruction should position this sophisticated structure as the culmination of students' sentence pattern knowledge, demonstrating how writers can express multiple complete thoughts while establishing hierarchical relationships among ideas. Focus on helping students analyze the logical structure of compound-complex sentences by identifying each clause and its function within the overall sentence. Teach appropriate punctuation patterns for compound-complex sentences, including comma placement before coordinating conjunctions and around non-essential dependent clauses. Guide students to recognize how compound-complex sentences allow writers to establish multiple relationships within a single sentence—showing contrast between independent clauses while providing causation in a dependent clause, for example. Implement sentence construction activities where students combine multiple simple and complex sentences into well-crafted compound-complex structures, discussing how the integration affects clarity, emphasis, and flow. Connect compound-complex sentence instruction to academic writing by analyzing how authors use these sophisticated structures in argumentative and explanatory texts to present multifaceted ideas with precise relationships.

1. Which sentence is a compound-complex sentence?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.She went to the store and bought milk.
B.Although it was raining, we went outside.
C.I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining, so I stayed inside.
D.Although it was raining, I went outside, and I got wet.

Explanation:

A compound-complex sentence contains at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. The correct sentence has two independent clauses ('I went outside' and 'I got wet') and one dependent clause ('Although it was raining').

2. True or False: A compound-complex sentence must have at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

By definition, a compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

3. Select all sentences that are compound-complex.

CHECKBOXES

A.After I finished my homework, I watched TV, and I ate dinner.
B.She likes apples, and she eats them daily.
C.Because it was late, we went home.
D.Although he was tired, he finished his work, and he went to bed.
E.I ran to the store.

Explanation:

Compound-complex sentences have at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. The correct options meet these criteria.

4. Identify the dependent clause in the sentence: 'Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed.'

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.She finished her homework
B.She went to bed
C.Although she was tired
D.She finished her homework, and she went to bed

Explanation:

The clause 'Although she was tired' cannot stand alone and is introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Although', making it a dependent clause.

5. True or False: 'Because I was late, I missed the bus, and I had to walk to school.' is a compound-complex sentence.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

This sentence has two independent clauses ('I missed the bus' and 'I had to walk to school') and one dependent clause ('Because I was late'), making it a compound-complex sentence.

6. Select all the coordinating conjunctions used in compound-complex sentences.

CHECKBOXES

A.and
B.but
C.because
D.although
E.or

Explanation:

Coordinating conjunctions such as 'and', 'but', and 'or' connect independent clauses. 'Because' and 'although' are subordinating conjunctions.

7. Which sentence is NOT a compound-complex sentence?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.While I was cooking, the phone rang, and I answered it.
B.I went to the park, and I played soccer.
C.Although it was cold, she wore a jacket, and she went outside.
D.After the movie ended, we went to dinner, and we talked about the film.

Explanation:

The sentence 'I went to the park, and I played soccer.' is a compound sentence with two independent clauses but no dependent clause, so it's not compound-complex.

8. True or False: A sentence must have at least three clauses to be considered compound-complex.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, totaling at least three clauses.

9. Select all subordinating conjunctions that can introduce dependent clauses in compound-complex sentences.

CHECKBOXES

A.although
B.because
C.and
D.but
E.since

Explanation:

Subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'because', and 'since' introduce dependent clauses.

10. Identify the number of independent clauses in the sentence: 'After the rain stopped, we went outside, and we played soccer.'

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Explanation:

The sentence has two independent clauses: 'we went outside' and 'we played soccer'.

11. Which of the following sentences is a compound-complex sentence?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.She enjoys painting and drawing.
B.Although it was raining, we went outside.
C.I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining, so I stayed inside.
D.Although it was raining, I went outside, and I got wet.

Explanation:

12. True or False: A compound-complex sentence must have at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

By definition, a compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

13. Select all sentences that are compound-complex.

CHECKBOXES

A.After I finished my homework, I watched TV, and I ate dinner.
B.She likes apples, and she eats them daily.
C.Because it was late, we went home.
D.Although he was tired, he finished his work, and he went to bed.
E.I ran to the store.

Explanation:

Compound-complex sentences have at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. The correct options meet these criteria.

14. Identify the dependent clause in the sentence: 'Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed.'

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.She finished her homework
B.She went to bed
C.Although she was tired
D.She finished her homework, and she went to bed

Explanation:

The clause 'Although she was tired' cannot stand alone and is introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Although', making it a dependent clause.

15. True or False: 'Because I was late, I missed the bus, and I had to walk to school.' is a compound-complex sentence.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

This sentence has two independent clauses ('I missed the bus' and 'I had to walk to school') and one dependent clause ('Because I was late'), making it a compound-complex sentence.

16. Select all the coordinating conjunctions used in compound-complex sentences.

CHECKBOXES

A.and
B.but
C.because
D.although
E.or

Explanation:

Coordinating conjunctions such as 'and', 'but', and 'or' connect independent clauses. 'Because' and 'although' are subordinating conjunctions.

17. Which sentence is NOT a compound-complex sentence?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.While I was cooking, the phone rang, and I answered it.
B.I went to the park, and I played soccer.
C.Although it was cold, she wore a jacket, and she went outside.
D.After the movie ended, we went to dinner, and we talked about the film.

Explanation:

The sentence 'I went to the park, and I played soccer.' is a compound sentence with two independent clauses but no dependent clause, so it's not compound-complex.

18. True or False: A sentence must have at least three clauses to be considered compound-complex.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, totaling at least three clauses.

19. Select all subordinating conjunctions that can introduce dependent clauses in compound-complex sentences.

CHECKBOXES

A.although
B.because
C.and
D.but
E.since

Explanation:

Subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'because', and 'since' introduce dependent clauses.

20. Identify the number of independent clauses in the sentence: 'After the rain stopped, we went outside, and we played soccer.'

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Explanation:

The sentence has two independent clauses: 'we went outside' and 'we played soccer'.

21. Which sentence is a compound-complex sentence?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.She went to the store and bought milk.
B.Although it was raining, we went outside.
C.I wanted to go for a walk, but it was raining, so I stayed inside.
D.Although it was raining, I went outside, and I got wet.

Explanation:

22. True or False: A compound-complex sentence must have at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

By definition, a compound-complex sentence includes at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

23. Select all sentences that are compound-complex.

CHECKBOXES

A.After I finished my homework, I watched TV, and I ate dinner.
B.She likes apples, and she eats them daily.
C.Because it was late, we went home.
D.Although he was tired, he finished his work, and he went to bed.
E.I ran to the store.

Explanation:

Compound-complex sentences have at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. The correct options meet these criteria.

24. Identify the dependent clause in the sentence: 'Although she was tired, she finished her homework, and she went to bed.'

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.She finished her homework
B.She went to bed
C.Although she was tired
D.She finished her homework, and she went to bed

Explanation:

The clause 'Although she was tired' cannot stand alone and is introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Although', making it a dependent clause.

25. True or False: 'Because I was late, I missed the bus, and I had to walk to school.' is a compound-complex sentence.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

This sentence has two independent clauses ('I missed the bus' and 'I had to walk to school') and one dependent clause ('Because I was late'), making it a compound-complex sentence.

26. Select all the coordinating conjunctions used in compound-complex sentences.

CHECKBOXES

A.and
B.but
C.because
D.although
E.or

Explanation:

Coordinating conjunctions such as 'and', 'but', and 'or' connect independent clauses. 'Because' and 'although' are subordinating conjunctions.

27. Which sentence is NOT a compound-complex sentence?

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A.While I was cooking, the phone rang, and I answered it.
B.I went to the park, and I played soccer.
C.Although it was cold, she wore a jacket, and she went outside.
D.After the movie ended, we went to dinner, and we talked about the film.

Explanation:

The sentence 'I went to the park, and I played soccer.' is a compound sentence with two independent clauses but no dependent clause, so it's not compound-complex.

28. True or False: A sentence must have at least three clauses to be considered compound-complex.

TRUE FALSE

True
False

Explanation:

A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, totaling at least three clauses.

29. Select all subordinating conjunctions that can introduce dependent clauses in compound-complex sentences.

CHECKBOXES

A.although
B.because
C.and
D.but
E.since

Explanation:

Subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'because', and 'since' introduce dependent clauses.

30. Identify the number of independent clauses in the sentence: 'After the rain stopped, we went outside, and we played soccer.'

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Explanation:

The sentence has two independent clauses: 'we went outside' and 'we played soccer'.