Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 146 · 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?
   “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
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (b) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) When I opened the door, the cat ran in. (c) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
7. 7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The milk was sour, so Mum threw it away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) that (b) who (c) although
11. 11.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
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) has rained every day (b) It has rained every day (c) since we came to Shimla
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) although (c) which
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (b) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (c) If you heat ice, it melts. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) A cool breeze blew across the lake. (d) You will catch the bus if you leave now.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) will catch the bus (c) You will catch the bus
24. 24.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
25. 25.What is the subordinate 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
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I know ___ the earth is round.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The school band played the national anthem.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Our school has a big library. (d) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.
29. 29.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) The boy is my cousin (c) is my cousin
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) The match ended; everyone went home.
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) The plants died (b) died (c) because nobody watered them
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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