Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 501 · 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) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The teacher said that we did well.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) The kite is red (c) which Dad made for me
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Our school has a big library.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) it was very heavy
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.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) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
39. 39.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) went another way (c) the bus went another way
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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