Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 179 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) Dev went to bed early (c) went to bed early
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) It has rained every day
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend

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