Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 161 · 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?
   “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) will catch the bus (b) if you leave now (c) You will catch the bus
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) A little sparrow built a nest on our window ledge. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train. (d) The boys swam in the river and played on the bank.
3. 3.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) because (c) although
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We stayed indoors because it was raining. (b) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend.
5. 5.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) when (b) which (c) although
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
7. 7.What is the subordinate 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
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “A cool breeze blew across the lake.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
10. 10.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
11. 11.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
12. 12.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The book which I borrowed is about birds.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The kite which Dad made for me is red.” (a) is red (b) The kite is red (c) which Dad made for me
14. 14.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) You will catch the bus if you leave now. (c) The bright stars twinkled in the night sky. (d) Riya planted a rose, and Kabir planted one too.
15. 15.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) stayed indoors (b) We stayed indoors (c) because it was raining
16. 16.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “I have a friend who lives in Goa.” (a) who lives in Goa (b) I have a friend (c) have a friend
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although Kabir was tired (b) he finished his homework (c) finished his homework
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
19. 19.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) Who (b) If (c) Although
20. 20.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) who sits next to me (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) is from Kochi
21. 21.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) When
24. 24.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) is from Kochi (b) The girl is from Kochi (c) who sits next to me
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (b) The shop was closed, so we went home. (c) The tired players rested under a neem tree. (d) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.
26. 26.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the rain stopped, we went out to play.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (b) Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the road was blocked, the bus went another way.” (a) Who (b) Although (c) Because
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (d) Because the road was blocked, the bus went another way.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) The hill was steep, yet Grandpa reached the top. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our class visited the science museum.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
37. 37.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If you mix red and yellow, you get orange.” (a) you get orange (b) get orange (c) If you mix red and yellow
38. 38.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The teacher said that we did well.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
39. 39.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Rohan finished his homework and went to bed.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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