Most writing problems trace back to one habit: using the same sentence structure over and over until the reader stops paying attention. This worksheet walks through all four sentence types, then gives you 44 exercises to actually apply what you're reading — not just recognize it on a quiz.
4Sentence Types
44Practice Exercises
FreePDF + Answer Key
01 — Understanding Sentence Structure
The 4 Sentence Types
Every sentence is built from clauses — groups of words with a subject and a verb. How many clauses a sentence has, and how they're connected, is what determines its structure.
Independent (main) clause Dependent (subordinate) clause Connecting word
Simple
One independent clause
A simple sentence has one main clause and nothing else. It doesn't have to be short.
Rain flooded the basement overnight.
Compound
Two independent clauses
Joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) or a semicolon. Both halves carry equal weight.
I wanted to leave early, butthe meeting ran long.
Complex
Main clause + dependent clause
The dependent clause starts with a subordinating word and can't stand alone.
Becausethe flight was delayed, we missed our connection.
Compound-Complex
All of the above, combined
At least two independent clauses plus at least one dependent clause.
Althoughthe store was closing, I grabbed the last loaf of bread, andthe cashier rang it up quickly.
02 — The Most Common Mix-Up
Compound or Complex? How to Tell Them Apart
Cover the connecting word. Can both halves stand alone as complete sentences?
Yes → Compound
"I called her" + "she didn't answer" — both complete on their own, joined by "but."
No → Complex
"Because I missed her" is a fragment on its own — that dependent clause makes it complex.
03 — Practice Worksheet
Identify & Write Your Own Sentences
The activities below cover both directions — recognizing sentence types when you see them, and building your own from scratch.
0 of 44 answers revealed
Label each sentence as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. For compound sentences, note both main clauses; for complex and compound-complex, note the main clause and the subordinate clause.
01The bakery closes at six on weekdays.
Simple.
02I finished the marathon, but my knees are still recovering.
Compound — main clause: I finished the marathon / main clause: my knees are still recovering.
03When the power went out, we lit candles and played cards.
Complex — main clause: we lit candles and played cards / subordinate clause: when the power went out.
04She studies every night after work, and she still finds time to volunteer, even though her schedule is packed.
Compound-complex — main clauses: she studies every night after work / she still finds time to volunteer; subordinate clause: even though her schedule is packed.
05Our flight leaves at dawn.
Simple.
06He forgot his umbrella, so he waited under the awning until the rain stopped.
Compound — main clause: he forgot his umbrella / main clause: he waited under the awning until the rain stopped.
07Although the recipe called for butter, I substituted olive oil.
Complex — main clause: I substituted olive oil / subordinate clause: although the recipe called for butter.
08The dog barked at the mail carrier.
Simple.
09My cousin moved to Portland last spring, and she still hasn't found an apartment she likes.
Compound — main clause: my cousin moved to Portland last spring / main clause: she still hasn't found an apartment she likes.
10Since the printer ran out of toner, I emailed the file instead, but my professor never opened it.
Compound-complex — main clauses: I emailed the file instead / my professor never opened it; subordinate clause: since the printer ran out of toner.
11The bakery down the street closed early because the owner's daughter had a school recital.
Complex — main clause: the bakery down the street closed early / subordinate clause: because the owner's daughter had a school recital.
Join each pair using a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet), a semicolon, or a semicolon plus a conjunctive adverb (however, meanwhile, instead, therefore). Try it yourself before revealing the sample answer.
01The lecture ran long. Half the class left early.
The lecture ran long, so half the class left early.
02We could order pizza. We could cook something at home.
We could order pizza, or we could cook something at home.
03The internet went down. Nobody could finish the assignment.
The internet went down, and nobody could finish the assignment.
04He wasn't thrilled with the venue. He agreed to book it anyway.
He wasn't thrilled with the venue; however, he agreed to book it anyway.
05My sister offered to drive. I still took the train.
My sister offered to drive; instead, I took the train.
06The store was closing in ten minutes. We grabbed what we needed and left.
The store was closing in ten minutes, so we grabbed what we needed and left.
07The interview went well. I still haven't heard back.
The interview went well, but I still haven't heard back.
08You can email the form today. You can drop it off tomorrow.
You can email the form today, or you can drop it off tomorrow.
09The coffee shop was packed. We found a table near the back.
The coffee shop was packed, yet we found a table near the back.
10Her flight got delayed twice. She still made it to the wedding on time.
Her flight got delayed twice; nevertheless, she made it to the wedding on time.
11The printer jammed for the third time. I gave up and wrote it by hand.
The printer jammed for the third time, so I gave up and wrote it by hand.
Turn each pair into one sentence using a subordinating conjunction (because, although, since, when, while, if, unless) or a correlative pair (either...or, not only...but also).
01The roads were icy. We drove slowly.
Because the roads were icy, we drove slowly.
02She loves hiking. She goes out every weekend.
Since she loves hiking, she goes out every weekend.
03The store was out of milk. I bought oat milk instead.
Since the store was out of milk, I bought oat milk instead.
04You don't speak up now. Nobody will know there's a problem.
Unless you speak up now, nobody will know there's a problem.
05He didn't finish the report. He still got the promotion.
Although he didn't finish the report, he still got the promotion.
06I don't recognize the number. I'm not answering the call.
Since I don't recognize the number, I'm not answering the call.
07The kids finish their homework. They can watch a movie.
Once the kids finish their homework, they can watch a movie.
08I missed the deadline. My manager gave me an extension.
Although I missed the deadline, my manager gave me an extension.
09You want the discount. You need to sign up before Friday.
If you want the discount, you need to sign up before Friday.
10The team lost the first three games. They made the playoffs.
Even though the team lost the first three games, they made the playoffs.
11I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I skipped lunch to finish the project.
Even though I hadn't eaten since breakfast, I skipped lunch to finish the project.
Combine each set of three sentences into one compound-complex sentence.
01It started raining. We packed up the picnic. We drove home.
Because it started raining, we packed up the picnic, and we drove home.
02He missed his alarm. He rushed to the station. He caught the last train.
Since he missed his alarm, he rushed to the station, but he caught the last train.
03The internet was slow. I couldn't upload the file. I emailed it instead.
Because the internet was slow, I couldn't upload the file, so I emailed it instead.
04She wasn't confident in the answer. She raised her hand anyway. The teacher praised her for trying.
Although she wasn't confident in the answer, she raised her hand anyway, and the teacher praised her for trying.
05The bridge was closed for repairs. We took the long way around. We still made it on time.
Since the bridge was closed for repairs, we took the long way around, but we still made it on time.
06My phone died. I couldn't check the address. I asked a stranger for directions.
Because my phone died, I couldn't check the address, so I asked a stranger for directions.
07The recipe called for saffron. The store didn't have any. I used turmeric instead.
Since the recipe called for saffron and the store didn't have any, I used turmeric instead.
08He hadn't studied all semester. He passed the final exam. His classmates were stunned.
Although he hadn't studied all semester, he passed the final exam, and his classmates were stunned.
09The landlord raised the rent again. We started looking at other places. We hadn't decided anything yet.
Because the landlord raised the rent again, we started looking at other places, although we hadn't decided anything yet.
10She turned down the first offer. The company came back with a better one. She accepted immediately.
Although she turned down the first offer, the company came back with a better one, and she accepted immediately.
11The trail was closed after the storm. We rerouted through the valley. We still reached the summit by noon.
Because the trail was closed after the storm, we rerouted through the valley, but we still reached the summit by noon.
04 — Take It Offline
Free Worksheet PDF and Answer Key
PDF
All 44 exercises + answer key
Formatted for printing or classroom use — cut sentences apart to use as task cards, or hand out the full sheet as-is.
Most sentence-structure errors don't come from not knowing the definitions — they come from punctuation choices that feel right but aren't. A quick pass through a sentence counter can help you count sentences.
Comma splices
✕The report was late, my manager wasn't happy.
✓The report was late, and my manager wasn't happy.
Run-on sentences
✕The report was late my manager wasn't happy.
✓The report was late; my manager wasn't happy.
Dropping the comma before FANBOYS
✕I left early but, she stayed.
✓I left early, but she stayed.
Misplacing the comma with a moved subordinate clause
✕We left early, because it was raining.
✓We left early because it was raining. (No comma needed when the dependent clause comes second.)
06 — Review
Quick Questions to Test Yourself
A compound sentence has two independent clauses and nothing else. A compound-complex sentence has those same two independent clauses plus at least one dependent clause attached.
Yes. A sentence can carry two, three, or more dependent clauses as long as it still has at least one independent clause holding it together — it's still just one sentence type, no matter how many dependent clauses are attached.
It works for any of them. The definitions and combining exercises are written at a level that middle schoolers and adult writers can both use. For lower grade levels, simplify the vocabulary in a few practice sentences — the structure of the exercises stays the same either way.
The real payoff of this worksheet isn't memorizing four labels — it's catching yourself mid-draft and knowing exactly why a sentence feels off, and how to fix it in one edit.