Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 532 · 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 lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) The kite is red
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.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
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
18. 18.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
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) If you heat ice, it melts. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) is ours (c) The house is ours
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) has rained every day (c) It has rained every day
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) has lived in Pune
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) was sweet (c) The mango was sweet
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since

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