Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 333 · 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 school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) We ate the cake
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) has lived in Pune (c) Riya has lived in Pune
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
20. 20.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
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) switched on the fan
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange

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