Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 181 · 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) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
2. 2.What is the main 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
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
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?
   “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) added the rice
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.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
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although

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