Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 531 · 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?
   “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) will catch the bus (c) if you leave now
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The house which has a blue door is ours. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) was very heavy (b) it was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
29. 29.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
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) who (c) although

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