Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 498 · 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?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.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
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) added the rice (c) When the water boiled
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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