Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 190 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
31. 31.What is the subordinate 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
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although

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