Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 150 · 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?
   “We have known Tara since we were in Class 1.” (a) since we were in Class 1 (b) have known Tara (c) We have known Tara
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) since (b) who (c) although
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The match ended; everyone went home. (d) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The lights went out; we lit a candle.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Mum said ___ dinner was ready.” (a) that (b) although (c) who
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (c) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The river flows past our village. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) went out to play (b) we went out to play (c) When the rain stopped
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
16. 16.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We stayed indoors ___ it was raining.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad. (d) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (b) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) since (c) although
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) which Dad made for me (c) The kite is red
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir thinks that the test is easy.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) because it was cold (c) wore a sweater
29. 29.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
31. 31.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
32. 32.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) because it was cold (b) Riya wore a sweater (c) wore a sweater
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
35. 35.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We have known Tara ___ we were in Class 1.” (a) although (b) who (c) since
36. 36.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A strong wind shook the mango trees.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) We stayed indoors (c) stayed indoors
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence

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