Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 137 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) went to bed early (c) because he was tired
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) added the rice (c) When the water boiled
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.

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