Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 507 · 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 bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate 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
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) did not rain
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
10. 10.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
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) the cat ran in
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tired players rested under a neem tree.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The teacher said that we did well. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) It has rained every day (c) has rained every day
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.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) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) The peacock spread its colourful feathers.
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) finished his homework (c) he finished his homework
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) get orange (c) you get orange
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.

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