Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 610 · 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:
   “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) has lived in Pune (c) Riya has lived in Pune
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.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
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
19. 19.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
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) The boy is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) is my cousin
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
31. 31.What is the main 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
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) is about birds (b) The book is about birds (c) which I borrowed
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
39. 39.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
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) although (b) who (c) since

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