Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 490 · 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?
   “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
18. 18.What is the subordinate 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
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the main 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
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
32. 32.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
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
38. 38.What is the subordinate 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
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) who (c) although

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