Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 153 · 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.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (b) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) It was very cold, so we lit a fire.
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (b) You must hold the rail, or you may slip. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.
6. 6.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day. (b) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework. (c) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Arjun opened the window and looked outside.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) he finished his homework (b) finished his homework (c) Although Kabir was tired
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) moved (b) When the light turned green (c) the cars moved
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The match ended; everyone went home.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) who (b) if (c) although
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “I have a friend ___ lives in Goa.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
17. 17.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our cat is lazy; it sleeps all day.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
20. 20.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The box was small, but it was very heavy.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Dad switched on the fan when it got hot.” (a) Dad switched on the fan (b) when it got hot (c) switched on the fan
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) who won the race (b) is my cousin (c) The boy is my cousin
24. 24.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
25. 25.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) We stayed indoors (b) because it was raining (c) stayed indoors
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (c) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (d) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) if it gets sunlight (b) will grow (c) The plant will grow
35. 35.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) When the rain stopped, we went out to play. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
36. 36.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) If it rains tomorrow (b) will be cancelled (c) the match will be cancelled
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir must run fast, or he will lose the race.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Because (b) Which (c) Although
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if

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