Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 139 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
2. 2.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
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) has lived in Pune (b) Riya has lived in Pune (c) since she was five
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (d) Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
11. 11.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) The bus leaves at ten (b) leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (c) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (d) The children flew kites on the terrace.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) the bus went another way (b) went another way (c) Because the road was blocked
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) the cat ran in (b) ran in (c) When I opened the door
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The shop was closed, so we went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) is ours (b) which has a blue door (c) The house is ours
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) that (c) although
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) have a friend (c) I have a friend
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I know that the earth is round.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too. (c) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) The lady who runs the library is very kind.
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (c) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which

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