Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 142 · 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?
   “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which goes to Agra (b) leaves at ten (c) The bus leaves at ten
2. 2.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
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (d) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) We thanked the man (c) thanked the man
16. 16.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
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The kite ___ Dad made for me is red.” (a) who (b) which (c) if
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.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race. (b) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (c) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
20. 20.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) You will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) will catch the bus
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The plants died because nobody watered them. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (c) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (d) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) The match ended; everyone went home. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The book which I borrowed is about birds.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The peacock spread its colourful feathers.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) we went out to play (b) When the rain stopped (c) went out to play
33. 33.What is the main 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
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
38. 38.What is the subordinate 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
39. 39.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
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) Kabir thinks that the test is easy.

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