Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 50 · 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) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
9. 9.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
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) died (c) The plants died
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) leaves at ten
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which

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