Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 113 · 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?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.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
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.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
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
26. 26.What is the subordinate 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
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) because (c) although
29. 29.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
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) Our school has a big library.
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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