Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 406 · 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:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
16. 16.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
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) Dev went to bed early (c) because he was tired
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) ran in (c) the cat ran in
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.

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