Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 135 · 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?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our school has a big library.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully. (d) When the light turned green, the cars moved.
8. 8.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
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) The kite is red (c) which Dad made for me
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
14. 14.What is the subordinate 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
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
17. 17.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
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (b) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our class visited the science museum. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
26. 26.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) which Grandma baked (c) ate the cake
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (b) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (c) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
32. 32.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) We ate the cake (b) ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) Mum said that dinner was ready.
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) The book is about birds (b) which I borrowed (c) is about birds
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Because (c) Although

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