Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 607 · 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?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) is ours
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) Dev went to bed early (c) because he was tired
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The teacher said that we did well. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our school has a big library.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
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?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) you get orange (c) get orange
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) We hope that it will not rain. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
31. 31.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
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
35. 35.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
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) Mum added the rice (c) When the water boiled

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