Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 314 · 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.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) Zoya got full marks
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) added the rice (c) Mum added the rice
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours

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