Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 366 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) The river flows past our village.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) he finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum said that dinner was ready.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) who runs the library (c) The lady is very kind
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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