Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 252 · 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.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
8. 8.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) The kite is red (c) which Dad made for me
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.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) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
17. 17.What is the main 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
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
33. 33.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
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.

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