Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 264 · 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:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate 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
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) I have a friend (c) who lives in Goa
24. 24.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) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) melts (c) it melts
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
40. 40.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

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