Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1-4

Monday, May 26, 2025

Sentences: Simple, Compound, and Complex

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you are able to understand the differences between 

• A simple, 
• A compound, 
• and a complex sentence

and can identify and create them.

Introduce the learning objective and let the students know what they will achieve by the end of the lesson.

Simple Sentences

• A simple sentence has one independent clause and expresses a complete thought.

• A simple sentence has one subject and one verb. 

• My grandmother has the flu.

Explain what a simple sentence is and provide an example. Ask students to come up with their own simple sentence examples.

Compound Sentences

• When you join two simple sentences with the linking words   and, or, but, so you get a compound sentence (= samengestelde zin). 
• One or more subjects, two or more verbs.
• My grandmother has the flu. She lies in bed.  
• My grandmother has the flu so she lies in bed.

Explain what a compound sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the coordinating conjunction in the example sentence.

Complex Sentences

• A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• Words like for, because, although, after, when, before, which, that, who, whose connect the sentences.

Explain what a complex sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the dependent clause in the example sentence.

Complex Sentences

• A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• Independent clause: a sentence that can stand alone and has one subject and one verb: She liked to sing. 

Explain what a complex sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the dependent clause in the example sentence.

Complex Sentences

• A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

• Dependent clause: a sentence that also has a subject and a verb, but can not stand alone: When she was younger. 

Explain what a complex sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the dependent clause in the example sentence.

Complex Sentences

• A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
• She liked to sing when she was younger. 
• My grandmother was unable to walk after she broke her leg. 

Explain what a complex sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the dependent clause in the example sentence.

Let op...

• De volgorde van independent / dependent sentence kan verschillen: 
• She liked to sing when she was younger.
• When she was younger she liked to sing. 

Explain what a complex sentence is and provide an example. Have students identify the dependent clause in the example sentence.

What type of sentence is 'Although she was tired, she stayed up late to finish her homework'?

1. Complex
2. Compound
3. None of the above
4. Simple

Which is a complex sentence?

1. I like ice cream.
2. They run fast.
3. She sings and looks beautiful.
4. Although it rained, we went outside.

Which word often introduces a dependent clause?

1. But
2. And
3. So
4. Because

Create a complex sentence using the dependent clause 'because he was hungry'.

I understand the difference between simple, compound, and complex sentences.

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Chapter 5

Maak nu via Stepping Stones online: 

Paragraaf I, writing and grammar.