Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 5 · 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) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (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) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
22. 22.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
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) thanked the man
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate 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
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small

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