Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 178 · 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:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
14. 14.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 the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Our school has a big library.
22. 22.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
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.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
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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