Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 594 · 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?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) was very heavy
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which I borrowed (b) The book is about birds (c) is about birds
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) the match will be cancelled (c) will be cancelled
23. 23.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
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) Although the sky was cloudy (c) it did not rain
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) It was late; the shops were closed.
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.

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