Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 118 · 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.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.
15. 15.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
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Because (c) Although
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) the cars moved (c) moved
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) Although the box was small (c) was very heavy
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (b) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane. (d) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.
35. 35.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) the cars moved (b) moved (c) When the light turned green
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) is from Kochi (c) The girl is from Kochi
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although

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