Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 128 · 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?
   “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
7. 7.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) went to bed early (c) because he was tired
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) although (c) when
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) I know that the earth is round.
19. 19.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) Dev went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) went to bed early
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
28. 28.What is the main 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
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The teacher said that we did well. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
33. 33.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
34. 34.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
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
38. 38.What is the main 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
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) since (b) who (c) although

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