Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 158 · 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.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
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
3. 3.What is the subordinate 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
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) You should eat now, or your food will get cold. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) Mum said that dinner was ready. (d) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (c) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (d) You should eat now, or your food will get cold.
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) although (c) who
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Kabir thinks ___ the test is easy.” (a) who (b) although (c) that
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) is my cousin (b) The boy is my cousin (c) who won the race
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The peacock spread its colourful feathers. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank. (d) Dev went to bed early because he was tired.
13. 13.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Diya washed her hands and sat at the table. (b) Manav kicked the ball over the fence. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) When the rain stopped, we went out to play.
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
15. 15.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) thanked the man (b) who found our dog (c) We thanked the man
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) The bus leaves at ten (c) which goes to Agra
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Grandma has lived here ___ she was a girl.” (a) since (b) although (c) who
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The children flew kites on the terrace.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
21. 21.What is the main 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
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plants died ___ nobody watered them.” (a) because (b) although (c) who
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) Imran wore a cap, and his brother wore one too.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The shop was closed, so we went home. (b) The doctor gave Omkar some medicine. (c) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
26. 26.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
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) The plants died because nobody watered them. (c) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (d) I called Meera, but she did not answer.
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) which (b) who (c) because
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “You will catch the bus ___ you leave now.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We must leave now, or we will miss the train. (b) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.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
37. 37.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
38. 38.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The mango was sweet although it looked green.” (a) although it looked green (b) The mango was sweet (c) was sweet
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “When the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) added the rice (b) When the water boiled (c) Mum added the rice
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence

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