Language Standards You Might Be Missing SERIES: Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex Sentence Types

Blog Post 3 of 5 in the Language Standards You Might Be Missing Series. This post focuses on simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence types.

One of the big language standards in middle school is understanding sentence structure—specifically, simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. 

These sentence types is laid out as part of the L.3 standard in 6th grade, and it continues to be added to in 7th and 8th grade, as the different sentence structures are the building blocks for writing clear, varied, and engaging sentences.

To help teachers with instruction of this skill and many other language skills, we have created standards-based units that you can begin implementing quickly with your students. Click on the grade level below to access the skills you need.

What Are Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences?

Understanding the different types of sentences and how to use them gives students the ability to express their ideas more clearly and with greater variety, which I think is the most important part. 

Let’s start with a breakdown of each sentence type:

1. Simple Sentences
   A simple sentence contains only one independent clause—this means it has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
   • Example 1: The dog barked.
   • Example 2: She runs every morning.
   • Example 3: I read a book.
2. Compound Sentences
   A compound sentence combines two independent clauses (complete thoughts) using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
   • Example 1: The dog barked, and the cat ran away.
   • Example 2: I wanted to play soccer, but it started raining.
   • Example 3: He studied for the test, so he passed with flying colors.
3. Complex Sentences
   A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The dependent clause adds extra information, but it cannot stand alone.
   • Example 1: The dog barked because it was hungry.
   • Example 2: She went to the store after finishing her homework.
   • Example 3: Although it was cold, we decided to go for a walk.
4. Compound-Complex Sentences
   A compound-complex sentence combines two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
   • Example 1: The dog barked because it was hungry, and the cat ran away.
   • Example 2: She went to the store after finishing her homework, but she forgot to buy milk.
   • Example 3: Although it was cold, we went for a walk, and we enjoyed the fresh air.

Why These Sentence Types Matter

Mastering sentence structures is essential for helping students express themselves clearly and effectively. 

As teachers, we would like to see our students using a mix of sentence types as this adds variety to their writing and helps them communicate more complex ideas. 

Knowing the sentence types also helps them have a better understanding of punctuation and why it is needed.

As with most things, sentence structure is also widely found on tests that students have to take at the state or national level as well.

How to Teach Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences

If you are looking for a structured way to teach sentence types, then we have something you may find very helpful. 

The L.3 Standards-Based Unit we offer for 6th grade is perfect for teaching sentence structures. Whether you are using the materials to help reteach concepts to older students or teach them for the first time to 5th and 6th graders, the materials are specifically focused on teaching the different skills that are a part of the L.3 standard.

In this blog post, we have broken down the L.3 standard and how to teach it to middle school students. We break the standard down into learning targets and look at how the standard changes throughout middle school. We also provide some activities and project ideas.

These units provide direct instruction, practice worksheets, assessments, and more to help your students master sentence variety. Below I have linked the individual 6th Grade L.3 Unit and the full 6th Grade Language Standards Bundle. Click on the images to learn more!

• 6th Grade L.3 Unit
• 6th Grade Language Standards Bundle

Conclusion

Focusing on sentence structure not only ensures your students meet the standards for L.3 but also equips them with the tools to become more effective writers. 

Mastery of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences lays the foundation for stronger writing skills that they’ll continue to use in everything from social media posts to emails to college essays.