Sentence Types
8 Grade 10 English questions on Sentence Types, with worked marking schemes. 8 questions are available on this topic in full.
Question 1
1 markWhich sentence is a simple sentence?
A. When Amina finished, she lit the jiko.
B. After she had finished her homework, Amina helped her mother.
C. The pupils sang and the parents clapped.
D. Amina and her brother swept the compound and lit the jiko.
(1 mark)
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3 marksIdentify the sentence type (simple, compound, complex or compound-complex) of each of the following.
(a) Wearing gumboots, the workers waded through the flooded nursery.
(b) The pump was repaired, but the tank remained empty because the pipe had burst.
(c) Whoever planted these seedlings did a careful job.
(3 marks)
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1 mark"Please hand in your library books before Friday." According to its function, this sentence is:
A. Imperative
B. Exclamatory
C. Interrogative
D. Declarative
(1 mark)
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1 mark"Although the borehole had dried up, the women fetched water from the stream, and the men repaired the pump." This sentence is:
A. Complex
B. Compound
C. Compound-complex
D. Simple
(1 mark)
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3 marksOutline three differences between a compound sentence and a complex sentence.
(3 marks)
Marking scheme
1 mark each, max 3: (i) A compound sentence has two or more main clauses, while a complex sentence has one main clause plus at least one subordinate clause. (ii) A compound sentence joins clauses with coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet) or a semicolon, while a complex sentence uses subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns (because, although, when, who, that). (iii) In a compound sentence the clauses are of equal grammatical weight and each can stand alone; in a complex sentence the subordinate clause depends on the main clause and cannot stand alone.
Question 6
1 markWhich of the following is a compound sentence?
A. After the siren sounded, the workers left the factory.
B. Because the road was muddy, the lorry that was carrying miraa stalled.
C. The lorry carrying miraa broke down near Meru.
D. The lorry carrying miraa broke down near Meru, so the driver called a mechanic.
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 7
4 marksJoin each pair of sentences to form the type of sentence shown in brackets. Do not change the meaning.
(a) The bus left the stage at six. It reached Nakuru before noon. (compound)
(b) The judges announced the results. The choir had already boarded the bus. (complex)
(4 marks)
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4 marksSuggest two reasons why a writer describing a football match for the school magazine might deliberately mix short simple sentences with longer complex ones.
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
1 mark per reason, 1 mark per supporting explanation; max 4. Acceptable points: (i) Short simple sentences create pace, tension or a sense of sudden action — explanation: they reach the verb quickly, mirroring rapid play, e.g. "He shot. The net bulged." (ii) Longer complex sentences allow background, cause or comment to be built in — explanation: subordinate clauses show relationships such as reason, time or condition without starting a new sentence. (iii) Variety prevents monotony and holds the reader's attention. (iv) Contrast between the two lengths highlights key moments by making them stand out against surrounding detail. Credit any two well-explained reasons.
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