Master Sentence Types for KS3: Simple, Compound, Complex

English Quiz - Sentences (Types) 02 (Questions)

Sentence types express purpose: statements, questions, commands, and exclamations. Master them to control tone and guide your reader in KS3 English.

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Fascinating Fact:

Good writers mix types: A firm statement, a focused question, and one short command can guide a paragraph with energy and control.

In KS3 English, you explore how sentence types shape meaning and voice. Using declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences helps you organise arguments, signal emphasis, and keep readers engaged.

Key Terms

Declarative sentence: Makes a statement or gives information.
Interrogative sentence: Asks a question and usually ends with a question mark.
Imperative sentence: Gives a command or instruction; the subject “you” is often understood.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are the four sentence types in English?

The four types are declarative (statement), interrogative (question), imperative (command or request), and exclamatory (strong feeling). Mixing them creates variety and control in writing.

How is a sentence type different from sentence structure?

Sentence type shows purpose (statement, question, command, exclamation). Sentence structure shows clause pattern (simple, compound, complex). A sentence has both a type and a structure.

How can I vary sentence types to improve my KS3 essays?

State your point with a clear declarative sentence, pose an occasional question to engage readers, use precise commands in instructions, and reserve exclamations for rare emphasis.

Try These Related Quizzes

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
The family is walking home.

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
What time is it?

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Question

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
We were late for tea.

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
Stand up!

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
We were late for tea and our meal was cold.

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
He was young and she was old.

[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Exclamatory
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
The car started.

[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Interrogative
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
She wore a coat but the weather was fine.

[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Exclamatory
[ ]	Simple

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
She wore a coat because it was raining.

[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Imperative
[ ]	Simple

10.

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
They went home because it was getting late.

[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Interrogative
[ ]	Simple

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is grammar?

English Quiz - Sentences (Types) 02 (Answers)

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
The family is walking home.

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[x]	Simple

A simple sentence has a subject, "family", and a verb, "is walking". It might also have an object such as "home"

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
What time is it?

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[x]	Question

A question (an interrogative) needs a question mark

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
We were late for tea.

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[x]	Simple

This simple sentence has a subject, "we", a verb, "were", and an object, "tea"

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
Stand up!

[x]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Simple

A command (imperative) uses an exclamation mark

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
We were late for tea and our meal was cold.

[ ]	Command
[ ]	Complex
[x]	Compound
[ ]	Simple

A compound sentence joins simple sentences together using connectives such as "and", "or" and "but"

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
He was young and she was old.

[ ]	Complex
[x]	Compound
[ ]	Exclamatory
[ ]	Simple

Two simple sentences, "He was young" and "she was old" have been joined by "and"

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
The car started.

[ ]	Complex
[ ]	Compound
[ ]	Interrogative
[x]	Simple

A simple sentence might only have the barest minimum of components: a subject (car) and a verb (started)

Select the correct term for the following sentence.
She wore a coat but the weather was fine.

[ ]	Complex
[x]	Compound
[ ]	Exclamatory
[ ]	Simple

Two sentences, "She wore a coat" and "the weather was fine" have been joined by "but"