Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 511 · 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) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) I know that the earth is round.
2. 2.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) is from Kochi (c) The girl is from Kochi
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) Grandma has lived here (c) since she was a girl
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) It has rained every day
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
22. 22.What is the main 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
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
26. 26.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
27. 27.What is the subordinate 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
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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