Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 192 · 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?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) thanked the man
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) who runs the library (b) is very kind (c) The lady is very kind
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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