Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 76 · 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.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 hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) I know that the earth is round.
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) Because
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (b) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) When I opened the door (c) ran in
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
20. 20.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
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) which has a blue door (b) The house is ours (c) is ours
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (b) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you heat ice, it melts. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It was very cold, so we lit a fire.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) We thanked the man who found our dog.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound 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?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten

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