Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 301 · 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?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) we went out to play
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Our school has a big library.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) has rained every day (c) It has rained every day
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
38. 38.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
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.

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