Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 567 · 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 strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.What is the main 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
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) since we came to Shimla (b) It has rained every day (c) has rained every day
13. 13.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
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) If you heat ice (c) melts
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) have a friend (b) who lives in Goa (c) I have a friend
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was late; the shops were closed. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which

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