Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 477 · 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) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) The bell rang; the children ran out. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) the bus went another way (c) went another way
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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