Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 624 · 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?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) Riya wore a sweater
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate 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
14. 14.What is the subordinate 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
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.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
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) I know that the earth is round.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
35. 35.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
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) Although the test was hard (c) got full marks
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.

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