Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 16 · 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?
   “The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer. (c) The lights went out; we lit a candle. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) although (b) since (c) who
4. 4.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
5. 5.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
7. 7.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
8. 8.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
9. 9.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Although the test was hard (b) got full marks (c) Zoya got full marks
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The boy who won the race is my cousin.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The lady who runs the library is very kind.” (a) The lady is very kind (b) is very kind (c) who runs the library
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) Although (b) Who (c) If
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (d) Arjun opened the window and looked outside.
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) If you mix red and yellow (c) get orange
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) went to bed early (b) because he was tired (c) Dev went to bed early
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Riya loves maths; her brother loves art. (c) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (d) The house which has a blue door is ours.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum said that dinner was ready. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds. (d) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.
22. 22.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly. (b) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (c) Our class visited the science museum. (d) Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The doctor gave Omkar some medicine.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You should eat now, or your food will get cold.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
28. 28.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) The kite is red (b) is red (c) which Dad made for me
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (b) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (c) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (d) The tailor stitched a new kurta for Dad.
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The old fisherman mended his net on the beach.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.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
34. 34.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (b) The school band played the national anthem. (c) Dad switched on the fan when it got hot. (d) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands.
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Joseph painted a boat on the wall.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If you heat ice (b) it melts (c) melts
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) died (b) because nobody watered them (c) The plants died
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) because (c) which
40. 40.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) If

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