Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 120 · 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 baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) The children flew kites on the terrace. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We hope that it will not rain. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) If it rains tomorrow (c) the match will be cancelled
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When I opened the door (b) the cat ran in (c) ran in
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard

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