Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 285 · 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?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
3. 3.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) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) melts (c) it melts
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
7. 7.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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
11. 11.What is the main 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
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.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) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The house which has a blue door is ours. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) I know that the earth is round.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.

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