Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 35 · 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?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.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
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) I know that the earth is round.
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) finished his homework (c) he finished his homework
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
24. 24.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
25. 25.What is the main 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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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