Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 356 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) the cars moved (c) When the light turned green
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) It has rained every day
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The house which has a blue door is ours. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
35. 35.What is the main 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
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here

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