Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 145 · 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 main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) got full marks (b) Zoya got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
4. 4.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) When the rain stopped (b) went out to play (c) we went out to play
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Because the road was blocked (b) went another way (c) the bus went another way
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (c) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (d) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) Manav kicked the ball over the fence.
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) who (c) if
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The river flows past our village. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) is red
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
23. 23.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) We thanked the man (c) who found our dog
24. 24.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
25. 25.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (c) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
29. 29.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) because nobody watered them (c) died
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (b) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The plant will grow if it gets sunlight. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away. (b) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) Our school has a big library.
37. 37.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (c) We thanked the man who found our dog. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly.
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) The plants died (c) because nobody watered them
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence

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