Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 199 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
6. 6.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
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) you get orange (c) get orange
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The river flows past our village.
14. 14.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
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) was very heavy
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) is very kind
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) has lived here (c) since she was a girl
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara

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