Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 132 · 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?
   “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
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I called Meera, but she did not answer.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Mum said that dinner was ready. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The river flows past our village.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Which (c) Although
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (b) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
9. 9.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bell rang; the children ran out. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
17. 17.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
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) The soup looked plain, but it tasted great. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
21. 21.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) was sweet (b) The mango was sweet (c) although it looked green
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) We thanked the man who found our dog. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
30. 30.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
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
40. 40.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) The plant will grow (c) will grow

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