Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 516 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) The book is about birds
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.What is the main 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
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) The girl is from Kochi
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) We thanked the man (c) who found our dog
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Who
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.

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