Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 116 · 40 questions

Writing tip (One clause leans on the other): Find the clause that starts with because, although, if, when, since, who, which or that — the subordinate clause (When the rain stopped). On its own it is not a complete sentence. The rest is the main clause (we went out to play): it makes complete sense alone. Choose the joining word by meaning: because → a reason, although → a surprise, if → a condition, when → a time, since → from a time until now, who → a person, which → a thing, that → what someone says, thinks or knows. Sort any sentence: one clause → simple; two main clauses → compound; a main clause + a subordinate clause → complex.

1. 1.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) I know that the earth is round.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) the match will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) will be cancelled
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which

Free writing skills lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/english-writing-skills