Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 126 · 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 main clause in this sentence?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
4. 4.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
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) finished his homework (c) he finished his homework
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (c) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) You must hold the rail, or you may slip.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
19. 19.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) Zoya got full marks (c) got full marks
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Our class visited the science museum. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) If you heat ice, it melts.
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) Although the box was small, it was very heavy.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Simran won the first prize in the quiz.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) The bell rang; the children ran out. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
32. 32.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
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) When (c) Although
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) Riya has lived in Pune (b) has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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