Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 633 · 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 subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) The mango was sweet (c) although it looked green
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.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
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The river flows past our village.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If
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.What is the subordinate 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
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) because nobody watered them (b) The plants died (c) died
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
40. 40.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

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