Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 565 · 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) Our school has a big library. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) The tired players rested under a neem tree.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.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
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The school band played the national anthem.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
25. 25.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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) The kite is red (c) which Dad made for me
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) When the light turned green (c) moved
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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