Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 617 · 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.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) it melts (c) If you heat ice
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) it did not rain (b) did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) have known Tara (c) since we were in Class 1
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) the bus went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.What is the subordinate 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
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
34. 34.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
35. 35.What is the subordinate 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
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) finished his homework
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.

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