Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 321 · 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 mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) although (c) if
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) was very heavy (c) it was very heavy
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) I have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) have a friend
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) which (c) because
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
38. 38.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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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