Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 164 · 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:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
6. 6.What is the main 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
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.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
31. 31.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
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which

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