Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 250 · 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 girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
22. 22.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
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.What is the main 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
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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