Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 166 · 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 plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
2. 2.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the water boiled, Mum added the rice.” (a) When (b) Although (c) Which
3. 3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Riya loves maths; her brother loves art.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Our neighbours grow tomatoes on their roof. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Dad was busy; Mum cooked dinner. (d) If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the light turned green, the cars moved.” (a) Which (b) Although (c) When
7. 7.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “The house ___ has a blue door is ours.” (a) if (b) which (c) who
8. 8.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “The farmers harvested the wheat in April.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ the test was hard, Zoya got full marks.” (a) Because (b) Although (c) Which
10. 10.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) although (b) who (c) if
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The teacher said ___ we did well.” (a) although (b) that (c) who
12. 12.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) Although (b) Because (c) Which
13. 13.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Aisha fed the stray puppies near the gate.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
14. 14.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The road was wet, so Dad drove slowly.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
15. 15.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must wear a helmet, or you may get hurt.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
16. 16.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
17. 17.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baby laughed at the clown and clapped her hands. (b) It has rained every day since we came to Shimla. (c) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (d) The room was dark, so I switched on the lamp.
18. 18.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) leaves at ten (b) which goes to Agra (c) The bus leaves at ten
19. 19.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Farhan had a fever, yet he came to the match. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The bus which goes to Agra leaves at ten. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
20. 20.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) If you mix red and yellow, you get orange. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) Joseph painted a boat on the wall.
21. 21.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “You will catch the bus if you leave now.” (a) if you leave now (b) You will catch the bus (c) will catch the bus
22. 22.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Riya wore a sweater because it was cold.” (a) Riya wore a sweater (b) wore a sweater (c) because it was cold
23. 23.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) Although the sky was cloudy (b) did not rain (c) it did not rain
24. 24.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “You must hold the rail, or you may slip.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
25. 25.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) I called Meera, but she did not answer. (b) Grandma has lived here since she was a girl. (c) Tenzin climbed the hill with his uncle. (d) The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.
26. 26.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) ate the cake (b) We ate the cake (c) which Grandma baked
27. 27.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (c) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi. (d) My grandmother makes mango pickle every summer.
28. 28.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) Although (b) Which (c) Because
29. 29.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.” (a) complex sentence (b) compound sentence (c) simple sentence
30. 30.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) compound sentence (c) complex sentence
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (b) Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain. (c) The shop was closed, so we went home. (d) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate.
32. 32.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) We have known Tara since we were in Class 1. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Priya wrote a letter to her pen friend. (d) We must leave now, or we will miss the train.
33. 33.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The farmer ploughed the field and sowed the seeds.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
34. 34.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “It has rained every day ___ we came to Shimla.” (a) who (b) although (c) since
35. 35.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The house which has a blue door is ours.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
36. 36.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “The plant will grow if it gets sunlight.” (a) will grow (b) The plant will grow (c) if it gets sunlight
37. 37.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The boy ___ won the race is my cousin.” (a) which (b) because (c) who
38. 38.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The baker sold fresh bread to Imran. (b) Arjun opened the window and looked outside. (c) Our team practised hard, so we won the cup. (d) The plants died because nobody watered them.
39. 39.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Riya wore a sweater ___ it was cold.” (a) although (b) who (c) because
40. 40.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The mango was green, yet it was very sweet.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence

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