Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 123 · 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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
2. 2.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
4. 4.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) since she was five (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) has lived in Pune
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) is about birds (c) which I borrowed
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) The river flows past our village.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The box was small, but it was very heavy.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.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
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) because (b) who (c) although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
29. 29.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
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) Riya has lived in Pune since she was five. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
40. 40.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) although it looked green (c) was sweet

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