Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 155 · 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) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.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
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Who
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
24. 24.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
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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