Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 72 · 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?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.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
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We must leave now, or we will miss the train.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
22. 22.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
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) We thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) thanked the man
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
31. 31.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) leaves at ten
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) has lived here (c) since she was a girl
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
37. 37.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) We thanked the man (c) who found our dog
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) ate the cake
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) you get orange
40. 40.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

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