Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 147 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) melts (c) it melts
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.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
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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