Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 119 · 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 test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Manav kicked the ball over the fence.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
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.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) the cat ran in (c) When I opened the door
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) We have known Tara (c) have known Tara
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) The plant will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound 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) when (c) although
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) It has rained every day
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If you mix red and yellow (b) you get orange (c) get orange
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (c) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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