Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 152 · 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?
   “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) when it got hot (b) switched on the fan (c) Dad switched on the fan
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) Because
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
5. 5.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) which Dad made for me (b) is red (c) The kite is red
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If (b) Who (c) Although
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
12. 12.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) It has rained every day (b) since we came to Shimla (c) has rained every day
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) if it gets sunlight (c) The plant will grow
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) since she was a girl (b) has lived here (c) Grandma has lived here
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “We hope that it will not rain.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) The boy who won the race is my cousin. (c) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (d) The lights went out; we lit a candle.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bright stars twinkled in the night sky.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The little girl hugged her teddy bear. (b) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (c) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bell rang; the children ran out.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) Grandma has lived here
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) The little girl hugged her teddy bear.
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya has lived in Pune since she was five.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The little girl hugged her teddy bear.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) it did not rain (c) did not rain
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) which (b) if (c) who

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