Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 235 · 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) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
29. 29.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
30. 30.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
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.

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