Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 225 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
4. 4.What is the subordinate 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
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
33. 33.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
34. 34.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
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
36. 36.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
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) who (c) although

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