Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 104 · 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 doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) because (c) which
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) added the rice (c) Mum added the rice
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.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
16. 16.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
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) Our class visited the science museum.
24. 24.What is the main 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
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.What is the main 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
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (c) We hope that it will not rain. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
33. 33.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although the box was small (b) it was very heavy (c) was very heavy
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (c) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (d) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) if (b) although (c) who

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