Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 127 · 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) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
5. 5.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) went another way (b) Because the road was blocked (c) the bus went another way
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) The children flew kites on the terrace. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) We ate the cake which Grandma baked.
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) switched on the fan
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (d) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
18. 18.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) who won the race (c) The boy is my cousin
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) which (b) although (c) because
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
25. 25.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (b) The river flows past our village. (c) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The soup looked plain, but it tasted great.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
38. 38.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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence

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