Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 520 · 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) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) I know that the earth is round.
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The river flows past our village.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The match ended; everyone went home. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.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
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
36. 36.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
37. 37.What is the main 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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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