Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 133 · 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?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (d) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (c) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) The house is ours (c) which has a blue door
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
7. 7.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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (d) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
14. 14.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
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) The plant will grow
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) it melts (b) melts (c) If you heat ice
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Although (b) If (c) Who
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) Grandma has lived here (c) has lived here
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We thanked the man who found our dog. (b) It was late; the shops were closed. (c) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (d) The crow dropped the stone and flew away.
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) Our school has a big library.
27. 27.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
28. 28.What is the subordinate 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
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I know that the earth is round. (b) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) switched on the fan (b) Dad switched on the fan (c) when it got hot
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) since she was five (c) Riya has lived in Pune
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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