Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 335 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.What is the subordinate 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
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
24. 24.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
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend

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