Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 22 · 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 sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) We ate the cake (c) ate the cake
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) is about birds
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) Dev went to bed early (c) went to bed early
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) is from Kochi (c) The girl is from Kochi
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) Our school has a big library.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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