Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 27: Complex sentences · Set 168 · 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 camel carried heavy bags across the sand.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
2. 2.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
3. 3.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) It was very cold, so we lit a fire. (b) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (c) The school band played the national anthem. (d) We stayed indoors because it was raining.
4. 4.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (b) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks. (c) The kite which Dad made for me is red. (d) Simran won the first prize in the quiz.
5. 5.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
   “Diya washed her hands and sat at the table.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
6. 6.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (b) The monkeys stole bananas from the cart. (c) When the light turned green, the cars moved. (d) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books.
7. 7.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
   “Although the box was small, it was very heavy.” (a) it was very heavy (b) was very heavy (c) Although the box was small
8. 8.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Joseph painted a boat on the wall. (b) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (c) The sky turned dark; thunder rumbled. (d) The girl who sits next to me is from Kochi.
9. 9.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
   “___ you heat ice, it melts.” (a) If (b) Although (c) Who
10. 10.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “If you heat ice, it melts.” (a) melts (b) If you heat ice (c) it melts
11. 11.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “We hope ___ it will not rain.” (a) although (b) who (c) that
12. 12.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The school band played the national anthem. (b) Dev went to bed early because he was tired. (c) Kavya sang a song and danced on the stage. (d) I was thirsty, so I drank some water.
13. 13.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
14. 14.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The bus ___ goes to Agra leaves at ten.” (a) if (b) who (c) which
15. 15.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although Kabir was tired, he finished his homework.” (a) finished his homework (b) Although Kabir was tired (c) he finished his homework
16. 16.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dad switched on the fan ___ it got hot.” (a) although (b) which (c) when
17. 17.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
18. 18.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The book which I borrowed is about birds. (b) Mum bought vegetables and paid the shopkeeper. (c) The box was small, but it was very heavy. (d) The heavy rain flooded the narrow lane.
19. 19.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Isha jumped over the puddle and laughed loudly.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
20. 20.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
21. 21.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (b) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book. (c) Grandpa reads the newspaper every morning. (d) The mango was sweet although it looked green.
22. 22.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “___ I opened the door, the cat ran in.” (a) Although (b) When (c) Which
23. 23.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The plant will grow ___ it gets sunlight.” (a) if (b) who (c) although
24. 24.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The puppy barked loudly and ran to the gate. (b) Our school has a big library. (c) The baby was asleep, so we spoke softly. (d) The boy who won the race is my cousin.
25. 25.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “The plants died because nobody watered them.” (a) simple sentence (b) complex sentence (c) compound sentence
26. 26.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “I like mangoes, and my sister likes them too.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
27. 27.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “Dev went to bed early ___ he was tired.” (a) who (b) although (c) because
28. 28.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Grandma peeled the peas and cooked a tasty curry.” (a) compound sentence (b) simple sentence (c) complex sentence
29. 29.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The mango was green, yet it was very sweet. (b) I have a friend who lives in Goa. (c) The camel carried heavy bags across the sand. (d) Our teacher smiled at us and opened the book.
30. 30.What is the subordinate clause in this sentence?
    “We stayed indoors because it was raining.” (a) because it was raining (b) stayed indoors (c) We stayed indoors
31. 31.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) Meera cleaned her room and arranged her books. (b) The old fisherman mended his net on the beach. (c) I know that the earth is round. (d) The test was hard, but Zoya got full marks.
32. 32.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex?
    “Kabir ran fast, but he missed the train.” (a) complex sentence (b) simple sentence (c) compound sentence
33. 33.Choose the right joining word for the gap:
    “The girl ___ sits next to me is from Kochi.” (a) because (b) which (c) who
34. 34.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “Although the sky was cloudy, it did not rain.” (a) did not rain (b) it did not rain (c) Although the sky was cloudy
35. 35.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
36. 36.What is the subordinate 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 lady ___ runs the library is very kind.” (a) who (b) which (c) because
38. 38.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
39. 39.What is the main clause in this sentence?
    “We ate the cake which Grandma baked.” (a) which Grandma baked (b) ate the cake (c) We ate the cake
40. 40.Which of these is a complex sentence? (a) The crow dropped the stone and flew away. (b) Kavya can swim, and her brother can swim too. (c) When the water boiled, Mum added the rice. (d) The farmers harvested the wheat in April.

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