Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 141 · 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 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
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) The mango was sweet (b) was sweet (c) although it looked green
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
11. 11.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our school has a big library. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) get orange (b) you get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) because (b) which (c) although
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) we went out to play (c) went out to play
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
28. 28.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) We have known Tara (b) since we were in Class 1 (c) have known Tara
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) which (b) when (c) although
30. 30.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
31. 31.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
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) We hope that it will not rain.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (b) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) The kite is red (c) is red
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) who (b) although (c) because

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