Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 125 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
2. 2.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
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) because (c) who
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (c) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (d) A strong wind shook the mango trees.
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When the water boiled (b) Mum added the rice (c) added the rice
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
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) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) The river flows past our village.
35. 35.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (d) A cool breeze blew across the lake.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
38. 38.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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.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

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