Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 596 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) the match will be cancelled
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) is very kind (b) The lady is very kind (c) who runs the library
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.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
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.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
16. 16.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
17. 17.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
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.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
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) has lived in Pune
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) The kite which Dad made for me is red.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
37. 37.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) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) if (c) who
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the main 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

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