Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 526 · 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) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) I know that the earth is round.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) moved (c) the cars moved
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) It was late; the shops were closed. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Mum added the rice (b) added the rice (c) When the water boiled
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) ate the cake
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) is about birds (c) The book is about birds
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Who
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan

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