Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 618 · 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?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I was thirsty, so I drank some water.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.What is the main 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
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.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
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) Dad switched on the fan
32. 32.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
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) The mango was sweet
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (c) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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