Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 647 · 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?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) is red (c) which Dad made for me
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “It was late; the shops were closed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) The house is ours (b) is ours (c) which has a blue door
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
14. 14.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
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) thanked the man (c) who found our dog
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
19. 19.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
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
22. 22.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
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) We stayed indoors
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.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
37. 37.What is the subordinate 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
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although

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