Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 209 · 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 test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) although (c) which
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Who
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) have a friend

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