Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 162 · 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:
   “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) who (b) because (c) which
2. 2.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) Simran won the first prize in the quiz. (c) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (d) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla.
3. 3.What is the main clause in this sentence?
   “We thanked the man who found our dog.” (a) who found our dog (b) thanked the man (c) We thanked the man
4. 4.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The book ___ I borrowed is about birds.” (a) which (b) if (c) who
5. 5.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
6. 6.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “We thanked the man ___ found our dog.” (a) because (b) who (c) which
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly. (c) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
9. 9.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (b) I was thirsty, so I drank some water. (c) The lady who runs the library is very kind. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
10. 10.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Dev went to bed early because he was tired.” (a) because he was tired (b) went to bed early (c) Dev went to bed early
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya has lived in Pune ___ she was five.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) My cousin plays the tabla at weddings. (c) The mango was sweet although it looked green. (d) The shop was closed, so we went home.
13. 13.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Zoya got full marks (b) got full marks (c) Although the test was hard
14. 14.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) The girl is from Kochi (b) who sits next to me (c) is from Kochi
15. 15.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Although the box was small, it was very heavy. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
16. 16.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.” (a) will be cancelled (b) the match will be cancelled (c) If it rains tomorrow
17. 17.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) since she was a girl (c) has lived here
18. 18.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) The plants died because nobody watered them. (d) The bell rang; the children ran out.
20. 20.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The sky was cloudy, but it did not rain. (d) I have a friend who lives in Goa.
22. 22.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence
23. 23.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The dog was hungry, and the cat was hungry too. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) Although the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Ananya passed the test, and her friends passed it too. (b) Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry. (c) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (d) When I opened the door, the cat ran in.
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The farmers harvested the wheat in April. (b) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (c) We ate the cake which Grandma baked. (d) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
27. 27.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) ran in (b) the cat ran in (c) When I opened the door
28. 28.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Rohan finished his homework and went to bed. (b) I know that the earth is round. (c) A strong wind shook the mango trees. (d) Nisha was nervous, yet she sang beautifully.
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The crow dropped the stone and flew away.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The mango was sweet ___ it looked green.” (a) although (b) because (c) which
31. 31.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We ate the cake ___ Grandma baked.” (a) who (b) if (c) which
32. 32.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
33. 33.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The children flew kites on the terrace. (b) Kabir thinks that the test is easy. (c) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
34. 34.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The river flows past our village.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
37. 37.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our team practised hard, so we won the cup.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
38. 38.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “Grandma has lived here since she was a girl.” (a) Grandma has lived here (b) has lived here (c) since she was a girl
39. 39.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “When the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) When the light turned green (b) moved (c) the cars moved
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) compound sentence (b) complex sentence (c) simple sentence

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