Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 629 · 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?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) went another way
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
8. 8.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
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) ate the cake
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My cousin plays the tabla at weddings.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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