Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 186 · 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 kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.What is the main 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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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